Difference between revisions of "Expressing "again" in the future with "zai""
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
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While 又 (yòu) is used for [[Again in the past with "you"|"again" in the past]], 再 (zài) is used for "again" in the future. That is, 再 is used when something has happened once and it ''will'' happen again.  
 
While 又 (yòu) is used for [[Again in the past with "you"|"again" in the past]], 再 (zài) is used for "again" in the future. That is, 再 is used when something has happened once and it ''will'' happen again.  
  
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== 再 as "Again" ==
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== Used as "Again" ==
  
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The basic structure for using the ''future'' "again" is:
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Remember this is the ''future'' "again."
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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*我们 明年 <em>再</em> 来 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen míngnián <em>zài</em> lái.</span><span class="trans">We'll come again next year.</span>
 
*我们 明年 <em>再</em> 来 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen míngnián <em>zài</em> lái.</span><span class="trans">We'll come again next year.</span>
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*你 可以 <em>再</em> 说 一 遍 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ <em>zài</em> shuō yī biàn ma?</span><span class="trans">Can you say it again, please?</span>
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*<em>再</em> 试 一下 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> shì yīxià.</span><span class="trans">Try it again.</span>
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*要 不 要 <em>再</em> 试 一下 ？<span class="pinyin">Yào bù yào<em>zài</em> shì yīxià?</span><span class="trans">Would you like to try it again?</span>
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*你 可以 <em>再</em> 说 一 遍 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ <em>zài</em> shuō yī biàn ma?</span><span class="trans">Can you please say it again?</span>
 
*这 本 书 我 要 <em>再</em> 看 一 遍 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè běn shū wǒ yào <em>zài</em> kàn yī biàn.</span><span class="trans">I want to read this book again.</span>
 
*这 本 书 我 要 <em>再</em> 看 一 遍 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè běn shū wǒ yào <em>zài</em> kàn yī biàn.</span><span class="trans">I want to read this book again.</span>
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*老师 说 明天 要 <em>再</em> 复习 一 遍 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī shuō míngtiān yào <em>zài</em> fùxí yī biàn.</span><span class="trans">The teacher said we'll review it again tomorrow.</span>
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*你 应该 <em>再</em> 复习 一 遍 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yīnggāi <em>zài</em> fùxí yī biàn.</span><span class="trans">You should review it again.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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In fact, this structure is present in one of the most common Chinese phrases: "再见!" In this case, it literally means "See you again!"
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In fact, this structure is present in one of the most common Chinese phrases: "再见!" In this case, it literally means "see you again."
  
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== 再 as "Another" or "Some More" ==
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== Used as "Another" or "Some More" ==
  
 
The English word "another" is often avoided altogether by using 再.
 
The English word "another" is often avoided altogether by using 再.
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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Subj. + 再 + [Verb Phrase]
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Subj. + 再 + Verb + Obj.
 
</div>
 
</div>
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 +
In this case, the object includes a quantity phrase.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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*<em>再</em> 吃 一点 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> chī yīdiǎn.</span><span class="trans">Eat more.</span>
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*<em>再</em> 吃 <strong>一点</strong> 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> chī <strong>yīdiǎn</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Eat some more.</span>
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*<em>再</em> 点 几 个 菜 吧 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> diǎn jǐ gè cài ba.</span><span class="trans">Let's order some more dishes.</span>
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*<em>再</em> 点 <strong>几个 菜</strong> 吧 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> diǎn <strong>jǐ gè cài</strong> ba.</span><span class="trans">Let's order some more dishes.</span>
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*服务员 ，<em>再</em> 来 两 瓶 啤酒 。<span class="pinyin">Fúwùyuán, <em>zài</em> lái liǎng píng píjiǔ.</span><span class="trans">Waiter, two more bottles of beer, please.</span>
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*服务员 ，<em>再</em> 来 <strong>两 瓶 啤酒</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Fúwùyuán, <em>zài</em> lái <strong>liǎng píng píjiǔ</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Waiter, two more bottles of beer, please.</span>
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*你 <em>再</em> 给 我 五十 块 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zài</em> gěi wǒ wǔshí kuài.</span><span class="trans">Give me fifty more kuai.</span>
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*<em>再</em> 给 我 <strong>三天 时间</strong> 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> gěi wǒ <strong>sān tiān shíjiān</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Give me another three days.</span>
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*我 能 不 能 <em>再</em> 拿 两 个 ？<span class="pinyin">Wǒ néng bu néng <em>zài</em> ná liǎng gè?</span><span class="trans">Can I take two more?</span>
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*我 能 不 能 <em>再</em> 拿 <strong>两 个</strong> ？<span class="pinyin">Wǒ néng bu néng <em>zài</em> ná <strong>liǎng gè</strong>?</span><span class="trans">Can I take two more?</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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== 再 for Continuous Action ==
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== Used for Continuous Action ==
  
 
Here 再 is similar to the English "for a while longer" or "keep [going/doing]."
 
Here 再 is similar to the English "for a while longer" or "keep [going/doing]."
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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Subj. + 再 + [Verb Phrase]
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Subj. + 再 + Verb + Verb
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 +
*<em>再</em> 找找 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> zhǎozhao.</span><span class="trans">Keep looking.</span>
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*你 <em>再</em> 问问 。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zài</em> wènwen.</span><span class="trans">Keep asking.</span>
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*别 急 ，<em>再</em> 想想 。<span class="pinyin">Bié jí, <em>zài</em> xiǎngxiang.</span><span class="trans">Don't worry. Keep thinking.</span>
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</div>
  
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*<em>再</em> 找 找 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> zhǎozhao.</span><span class="trans">Keep looking.</span>
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You can also add 一会儿 after the verb to mean "keep doing something a little longer."  
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*不 急 ，<em>再</em> 想想 。<span class="pinyin">Bù jí, <em>zài</em> xiǎngxiang.</span><span class="trans">Don't worry. Keep thinking.</span>
 
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*<em>再</em> 等 一会儿 吧 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> děng yīhuìr ba.</span><span class="trans">Let's wait a little longer.</span>
 
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*时间 还 早 ，<em>再</em> 玩 一会儿 。<span class="pinyin">Shíjiān hái zǎo, <em>zài</em> wán yīhuìr ba.</span><span class="trans">It's still early. Let's keep playing a.</span>
 
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*现在 才 六 点 半 ，你 可以 <em>再</em> 睡 一会儿 。<span class="pinyin">Xiànzài cái liù diǎn bàn, nǐ kěyǐ <em>zài</em> shuì yīhuìr.</span><span class="trans">It's only half past six. You can sleep a little longer.</span>
 
  
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<div class="liju">
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*<em>再</em> 聊 一会儿 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> liáo yīhuǐr.</span><span class="trans">Keep talking for a little bit.</span>
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*<em>再</em> 等 一会儿 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> děng yīhuǐr.</span><span class="trans">Wait a little longer.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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== See Also ==
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You can use either the "Verb + Verb" pattern or the 一会儿 pattern with 再, but don't use them together.
 +
 
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== See also ==
  
 
* [["Never again" with "zai ye bu"]]
 
* [["Never again" with "zai ye bu"]]
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|60}}
 
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|157}}
 
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|157}}
 
{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)|202}}
 
{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)|202}}
  
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===Websites===
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=== Websites ===
  
 
* Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0212.html Using 再 and 又]
 
* Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0212.html Using 再 and 又]
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|再|B1|再 + Verb|我 下 次 <em>再</em> 来。|grammar point|ASGIZQJ2}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|再|B1|再 + Verb|我 下 次 <em>再</em> 来。|grammar point|ASGIZQJ2}}
 
{{Similar|"Never again" with "zai ye bu"}}
 
{{Similar|"Never again" with "zai ye bu"}}

Latest revision as of 08:56, 21 April 2021

While 又 (yòu) is used for "again" in the past, 再 (zài) is used for "again" in the future. That is, 再 is used when something has happened once and it will happen again.

Used as "Again"

Remember this is the future "again."

Structure

Subj. + 再 + [Verb Phrase]

Examples

  • 我们 明年 再 来 。Wǒmen míngnián zài lái.We'll come again next year.
  • 再 试 一下 。Zài shì yīxià.Try it again.
  • 你 可以 再 说 一 遍 吗 ？Nǐ kěyǐ zài shuō yī biàn ma?Can you please say it again?
  • 这 本 书 我 要 再 看 一 遍 。Zhè běn shū wǒ yào zài kàn yī biàn.I want to read this book again.
  • 你 应该 再 复习 一 遍 。Nǐ yīnggāi zài fùxí yī biàn.You should review it again.

In fact, this structure is present in one of the most common Chinese phrases: "再见!" In this case, it literally means "see you again."

Used as "Another" or "Some More"

The English word "another" is often avoided altogether by using 再.

Structure

Subj. + 再 + Verb + Obj.

In this case, the object includes a quantity phrase.

Examples

  • 再 吃 一点 。Zài chī yīdiǎn.Eat some more.
  • 再 点 几个 菜 吧 。Zài diǎn jǐ gè cài ba.Let's order some more dishes.
  • 服务员 ，再 来 两 瓶 啤酒 。Fúwùyuán, zài lái liǎng píng píjiǔ.Waiter, two more bottles of beer, please.
  • 再 给 我 三天 时间 。Zài gěi wǒ sān tiān shíjiān.Give me another three days.
  • 我 能 不 能 再 拿 两 个 ？Wǒ néng bu néng zài ná liǎng gè?Can I take two more?

Used for Continuous Action

Here 再 is similar to the English "for a while longer" or "keep [going/doing]."

Structure

Subj. + 再 + Verb + Verb

Examples

  • 再 找找 。Zài zhǎozhao.Keep looking.
  • 你 再 问问 。 Nǐ zài wènwen.Keep asking.
  • 别 急 ，再 想想 。Bié jí, zài xiǎngxiang.Don't worry. Keep thinking.

You can also add 一会儿 after the verb to mean "keep doing something a little longer."

  • 再 聊 一会儿 。Zài liáo yīhuǐr.Keep talking for a little bit.
  • 再 等 一会儿 。Zài děng yīhuǐr.Wait a little longer.

You can use either the "Verb + Verb" pattern or the 一会儿 pattern with 再, but don't use them together.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites

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