Expressing "over and over again" with "zaisan"

再三 (zàisān) or means "repeatedly" or "time and again" in a formal way, and is usually placed before a two-syllable verb.

Structure

Although the verb phrase in the pattern is usually referring to past events, 了 and 过 are generally not used with 再三, but you will sometimes see it.

再三 + Verb Phrase

Examples

• 老师 再三 强调 这 次 考试 对 我们 很 重要。Lǎoshī zàisān qiángdiào zhè cì kǎoshì duì wǒmen hěn zhòngyào.The teacher has stressed over and over that this exam is really important for us.
• 这 个 决定 是 经过 再三 考虑 做 出来 的。Zhège juédìng shì jīngguò zàisān kǎolǜ zuò chūlai de.This decision was made after much consideration.
• 中国 政府 再三 警告 美国 不要 干涉 中国 的 内政。Zhōngguó zhèngfǔ zàisān jǐnggào Měiguó bùyào gānshè Zhōngguó de nèizhèng.China's government has warned the USA repeatedly not to interfere in China's affairs.
• 她 再三 犹豫 之后，选择 了 放弃 比赛。Tā zàisān yóuyù zhīhòu, xuǎnzé le fàngqì bǐsài.After hesitating again and again, she chose to quit the competition.
• 我们 再三 考虑 过 后，决定 满足 你 的 这 个 要求。Wǒmen zàisān kǎolǜ guo hòu, juédìng mǎnzú nǐ de zhège yāoqiú.After having considered it many times, we decided to satisfy this requirement of yours.
• 我 再三 提醒 你 出国 旅游 一定 要 小心 你 的 钱包。Wǒ zàisān tíxǐng nǐ chūguó lǚyóu yīdìng yào xiǎoxīn nǐ de qiánbāo.I've reminded you again and again that you need to be careful with your wallet when you travel abroad.
• 我 再三 劝 你 不 要 这样 做，你 还是 不 听。Wǒ zàisān quàn nǐ bùyào zhèyàng zuò, nǐ háishì bù tīng.I've advised you repeatedly not to do this, but you still don't listen.
• 他 再三 表示 不 会 参加 下 一 届 的 奥运会。Tā zàisān biǎoshì bù huì cānjiā xià yī jiè de Àoyùnhuì.He has repeatedly indicated that he will not participate in the next Olympic Games.
• 我 已经 再三 告诉 你 了 这 次 会议 的 重要性，你 还是 迟到 了。Wǒ yǐjīng zàisān gàosù nǐ le zhè cì huìyì de zhòngyào xìng, nǐ háishì chídào le.I've already repeatedly told you the importance of this meeting, yet you still showed up late.
• 经过 再三 考虑，我 还是 决定 做 老师。Jīngguò zàisān kǎolǜ, wǒ háishì juédìng zuò lǎoshī.After thinking it over many times, I have decided to become a teacher.

See also

• Again in the future with "zai"
• Again in the past with "you"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (pp. 195-7) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 5 (新实用汉语课本5) (pp. 157) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• HSK Standard Course 5上 (pp. 126) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

HSK5