Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"

The word 再 (zài) actually has a lot of uses, beyond just "again," and in this pattern it means something like "and then." 先⋯⋯，再⋯⋯ (xiān..., zài...) is a pattern used for sequencing events, much like "first..., then..." in English. This pattern can also include 然后 (ránhòu), meaning "and after that."

Basic Usage

In the pattern below, 先 means "first" and 再 has a meaning of "then" or "and then."

Structure

先 ⋯⋯ ，再 ⋯⋯

Examples

• 先 洗 手 再 吃。Xiān xǐ shǒu zài chī.Wash your hands first, and then eat.
• 我 喜欢 先 洗澡 ，再 睡觉 。Wǒ xǐhuan xiān xǐzǎo, zài shuìjiào.I prefer to take a bath first and then go to bed.
• 请 你 先 买 票 再 进去。Qǐng nǐ xiān mǎi piào zài jìnqù.Please buy a ticket first and then enter.
• 你 要 先 做 作业 ，再 看 电视。Nǐ yào xiān zuò zuòyè, zài kàn diànshì.You need to do your homework first, and then watch TV.
• 我 想 先 找 工作 ，再 搬家 。Wǒ xiǎng xiān zhǎo gōngzuò, zài bānjiā.I want to find a job first, and then move.

Colloquial Usage with 再说

You may have learned that 再说 can mean "in addition." Well, the usage of 再 here is a more literal combination of 再说, fitting into the 先⋯⋯再⋯⋯ pattern.

So in this usage, 再说 doesn't really mean "in addition." Rather, it most literally means, "and then we'll talk." In other words, "let's just do this now," and then after we see the result, we can talk some more about next steps. There's a "let's see how this goes first" feeling to the expression.

Structure

Note that in the pattern below, the sentence normally ends with 再说.

先 + [Verb Phrase] + 再说

Examples

The 再说 part in the following sentences can be a little tricky to translate into English.

• 先 吃饭 再 说 。Xiān chīfàn zài shuō.Let's eat first, then we'll talk.
• 先 休息 一下 再说 。Xiān xiūxi yīxià zàishuō.Let's rest a little first, then we'll see.
• 你 先 看 完 再说 。Nǐ xiān kàn wán zàishuō.Finish reading first, and then we'll see.
• 我 先 问 一下 老板 再说 。Wǒ xiān wèn yīxià lǎobǎn zàishuō.I'm going to ask the boss first before doing anything else.
• 你们 先 讨论 一下 再说 。Nǐmen xiān tǎolùn yīxià zàishuō.You guys discuss a little first, then we'll figure out what to do next.

"and then..." with 接着

When describing a series of actions, steps, or consecutive events, your Chinese will sound more natural if you can diversify your conjunctions. 然后 (ránhòu) is most commonly used, a conjunction which means "and then." Alternatively, you can use 接着 (jīezhe), as a conjunction that means "next," or "afterwards."

A longer example to help you understand how they can all work together:

• 今天 早上 我 起床 以后 先 准备 早饭 ，再 叫 孩子们 起床 ，接着 我们 一起 吃早饭 ，然后 我 送 他们 去 学校 。Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ qǐchuáng yǐhòu xiān zhǔnbèi zǎofàn, zài jiào háizi men qǐchuáng, jiēzhe wǒmen yīqǐ chī zǎofàn, ránhòu wǒ sòng tāmen qù xuéxiào.After I got up this morning, I first prepared breakfast, and then I woke up the kids. Next, we ate breakfast together. After that, I took them to school.

Sources and further reading

Books

• HSK Standard Course 3 (pp. 119) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• HSK Standard Course 4下 (pp. 105) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 258-9) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 19-20) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 172) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy

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