依然

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 依然(いぜん) is an adverb indicating that a state continues as before.
• Basic usage: It emphasizes a state that persists despite a change in circumstances, such as congestion continuing after a road is repaired.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Use with として
  • In 依然として続いている, it combines with として; it can also directly precede a state expression, as in 依然不明.
• The homophone 以前
  • 以前 refers to the past or a time before a particular point, while 依然 indicates that a state remains unchanged.
  • The sound いぜん alone does not distinguish them; the context shows whether time or persistence is meant.