Difference between revisions of "Comparing "zai" and "you""
Line 5: Line 5:
 
== 再 is used to express repetition of an action in the future ==
 
== 再 is used to express repetition of an action in the future ==
  
−
[[Again in the future with "zai"|再 is used to express something that has already happened and will happen again]].
+
再 is used to express something that [[Again in the future with "zai"|has already happened and will happen again]].
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
Line 24: Line 24:
  
 
== 再 can be used to say "another" ==
 
== 再 can be used to say "another" ==
−
[[Again in the future with "zai"|Along with expressing the repetition of an action, 再 can be used to express the equivalent of the English word "another"]]
+
 
 +
Aside from expressing the repetition of an action, [[Again in the future with "zai"|再 can also be used to express the equivalent of the English word "another"]].
  
 
===Structure ===
 
===Structure ===
 +
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
Subject + 再 + Verb + Object
 
Subject + 再 + Verb + Object
Line 32: Line 34:
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
 +
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
Line 42: Line 45:
  
 
== 再 can be used to say "and then" ==
 
== 再 can be used to say "and then" ==
−
[[Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"|再 can be used with 先 to express sequential order]] (ex. Do this....and then this...). In some cases, 再 can appear by itself to simply mean "and then".
+
 
 +
[[Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"|再 can be used with 先 to express sequential order]]. (ex. Do this....and then this....) In some cases, 再 can appear by itself to simply mean "and then."  While this doesn't sound so easy to confuse with 又, it's actually quite common for intermediate learners to misunderstand this use of 再 as meaning "again," so it's definitely worth mentioning here.
  
 
=== Structure ===  
 
=== Structure ===  
 +
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
Subject + (先) + Action 1 + 再 + Action 2
 
Subject + (先) + Action 1 + 再 + Action 2
Line 85: Line 90:
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
−
== 又 indicates a emotional coloring or a regularity when involves the future==
+
== 又 adds emotional coloring to events recurring in the future ==
  
−
又 is also used to express repetition of an action in the future, 但是用于将来的事情描述时，“又”通常包含一种主观感情色彩的表达，比如：不耐烦，生气，无奈，讨厌，不满等等，有时候也会表示“高兴”等积极情感。或者是对某一规律性的事情的推测。记住，“又”要放在“要”“可以”“会”等助动词和“是”的后面。
+
又 is sometimes used to express that something that has happened before is going to happen in the immediate future.  In this case, it usually appears with 要, 可以, 能, or 是.  This usage often expresses exasperation or impatience with something happening ''yet '''again''''', but sometimes it's more neutral, or even happy.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
Line 99: Line 104:
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
−
* 明天 <em>又</em> 要 开会，真 烦 人。
+
* 明天 <em>又</em> <strong>要</strong> 开会，真 烦 人 。<span class="trans">We're having ANOTHER meeting tomorrow. So annoying!</span>
−
* 你 <em>又</em> 要 辞职 了？为什么？
+
* 你 <em>又</em> <strong>要</strong> 辞职 了 ？ 为什么 ？ <span class="trans">You're going to resign again? Why?</span>
−
* 夏天 快 到 了，<em>又</em> 可以 吃 冰激凌 了！
+
* 夏天 快 到 了，<em>又</em> </strong>可以</strong> 吃 冰激凌 了 ！ <span class="trans">It's almost summer, and we can eat ice cream again!</span>
−
* 明天 <em>又</em> 是 星期一！
+
* 明天 <em>又</em> <strong>是</strong> 星期一 ！ <span class="trans">Tomorrow is Monday again.</span>
−
* 如果 我 能 瘦 一 些，我 就 <em>又</em> 能 穿 我 最 喜欢 的 裙子 啦！
+
* 如果 我 能 瘦 一 些，我 就 <em>又</em> <strong>能</strong> 穿 我 最 喜欢 的 牛仔裤 啦 ！ <span class="trans">If I can slim down a bit, I can wear my favorite jeans again!</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
−
== 又 is used to emphasize negation ==
+
== Both 再 and 又 have other uses as well ==
−
 
 
−
[[Emphasizing negation with "you"|又 can be placed before a negating verb or adjective to emphasize said negation]].
 
  
−
=== Structure ===  
+
The comparisons above are the cases where 又 and 再 are most easily confused. This wiki also has other uses of both, however:
  
−
<div class="jiegou">
+
* [[又|All uses of 又]]
−
Subject + 又 + 不/没 + Verb + Object
+
* [[再|All uses of 再]]
−
</div>
 
−
 
 
−
=== Examples ===
 
−
 
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul>
 
−
<li class="o">我 <em>又</em> <strong>不</strong> 吃 肉，只 吃素 。<span class="trans">I really don't eat meat. I just eat vegetables.</span></li>
 
−
<li class="o">他 <em>又</em> <strong>不</strong> 要 去 酒吧 。<span class="trans">He's definitely not going to the bar.</span></li>
 
−
<li class="o">昨天 我 <em>又</em> <strong>没</strong> 看 电影，我 做 作业 。<span class="trans">I definitely didn't go to the movies last night. I did work.</span></li>
 
−
<li class="x">我 <em>再</em> <strong>不</strong> 要 吃 日本 菜，我 要 吃 中国 菜 。<span class="expl">"再" cannot emphasize the negation by itself.</span></li>
 
−
<li class="x">你 <em>再</em> <strong>不</strong> 要 跟 他 一起 去 吃 饭。你 要 跟 我 去 。<span class="expl">"再" cannot emphasize the negation by itself.</span></li>
 
−
</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==

Revision as of 07:37, 2 September 2013

Both 再 (zài) and 又 (yòu) express the duplication of an action and can be roughly translated in English to "again". However, 再 is used to express actions that have not yet occurred (the "future again") and 又 is used for actions that have already occurred (the "past again"). They're not interchangeable.

再 is used to express repetition of an action in the future

再 is used to express something that has already happened and will happen again.

Structure

Subject + 再 + Verb + Object

Examples

  • 我们 下次 再 来 这里 吧。We will come here again next time.
  • 你 再 帮 我 打印 两 张，这 些 不 够。You will help me print two sheets, these aren't enough.
  • 请 再 说 一次。Please say it one more time.
  • 请 又 说 一次。Since it is asking about a future action, you can't use "又"

再 can be used to say "another"

Aside from expressing the repetition of an action, 再 can also be used to express the equivalent of the English word "another".

Structure

Subject + 再 + Verb + Object

Examples

  • 我 要 再 看 一部 电影。I am going to watch another movie.
  • 我 得 又 写 一篇 作文。Since it is about the future, you can't use "又"
  • 你 可以 再 做 一碗 面条 吗。You can make another bowl of noodles.
  • 我 要 又 吃 一块 蛋糕。Since it is about the future, you can't use "又"

再 can be used to say "and then"

再 can be used with 先 to express sequential order. (ex. Do this....and then this....) In some cases, 再 can appear by itself to simply mean "and then." While this doesn't sound so easy to confuse with 又, it's actually quite common for intermediate learners to misunderstand this use of 再 as meaning "again," so it's definitely worth mentioning here.

Structure

Subject + (先) + Action 1 + 再 + Action 2

Examples

  • 我们 先 做 作业 再 去 酒吧。First we'll do our work, then we'll go to the bar.
  • 我 先 买 房子 再 结婚。First I'll buy a house, then I'll get married.
  • 我们 买完 饮料 以后 再 看 电影。After we buy a drink, then we'll go to a movie.
  • 我们 回家 再 讨论 好 吗？We discuss it after we go home, OK?
  • 我 要 看 完 书 又 睡觉。'"又"can not be used as the action"go to bed" haven't occured yet.
  • 你 先 吃饭 又 打 电话 給 父母。"又" does not sequence events.

又 is used to express repetition of an action that has already occurred in the past

又 is used in declarative sentences and describes the simple repetition of actions. This repeated action has already occurred once in the past.

Structure

Subject + 又 + Verb + 了

Example

  • 你 怎么 又 给 我 打 电话，什么事？You keep calling me, what's the matter?
  • 这 个 老 男人 又 来 了。This old man came again.
  • 他 又 不 来 上 课 了，老师 可能 罚 他。He didn't come to class again. The teacher is probably going to punish him.
  • 你 为什么 又 看 这本书? 你 已经 看过 了。Why do are you reading that book again？ You already read it.
  • 昨天 他 再 喝醉 了"再" is not used for past events.
  • 昨天 我 再 看 电影 了"再" is not used for past events.

又 adds emotional coloring to events recurring in the future

又 is sometimes used to express that something that has happened before is going to happen in the immediate future. In this case, it usually appears with 要, 可以, 能, or 是. This usage often expresses exasperation or impatience with something happening yet again, but sometimes it's more neutral, or even happy.

Structure

Subject + 又 + 助动词/谓语动词 + Object

Example

  • 明天 又 要 开会，真 烦 人 。We're having ANOTHER meeting tomorrow. So annoying!
  • 你 又 要 辞职 了 ？ 为什么 ？ You're going to resign again? Why?
  • 夏天 快 到 了，又 可以 吃 冰激凌 了 ！ It's almost summer, and we can eat ice cream again!
  • 明天 又 是 星期一 ！ Tomorrow is Monday again.
  • 如果 我 能 瘦 一 些，我 就 又 能 穿 我 最 喜欢 的 牛仔裤 啦 ！ If I can slim down a bit, I can wear my favorite jeans again!

Both 再 and 又 have other uses as well

The comparisons above are the cases where 又 and 再 are most easily confused. This wiki also has other uses of both, however:

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites

Retrieved from "https://resources.allsetlearning.com/gramwiki/?title=Comparing_%22zai%22_and_%22you%22&oldid=16947"