Expressing "again" in the future with "zai"

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.

再 as "again"

The basic structure for using the future "again" is:

Subj. + 再 + Verb Phrase

Some examples:

• 我 明天 再 来。Wǒ míngtiān zài lái.I'll come again tomorrow.
• 请 再 说 一 遍。Qǐng zài shuō yī biàn.Say it again, please.
• 我 想 再 看 一 遍。Wǒ xiǎng zài kàn yībiàn.I want to watch it again.
• 再 试 一下 吧。Nǐ zài shì yīxià ba.Try it again.
• 你 可以 帮 我 再 问 一 下 吗？Nǐ kěyǐ bāng wǒ zài wèn yīxià ma?Can you ask for me one more time?

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!"

再 as "another" or "some more"

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

Examples:

• 你 再 给 我 一 张 纸。Nǐ zài gěi wǒ yī zhāng zhǐ.Give me another piece of paper.
• 我们 再 找 一 个 人 吧。Wǒmen zài zhǎo yīgè rén ba.Let's find another person.
• 她 想 再 做 一 个 新 的 作品。Tā xiǎng zài zuò yīgè xīn de zuòpǐn.She wants to do a new kind of work.
• 我们 再等 他 五 分钟 吧 。Wǒmen zài děng tā wǔ fēnzhōng ba.Let's wait for him five more minutes.
• 你 再 给 我 一点 钱。Nǐ zài gěi wǒ yīdiǎn qián.Give me a little more money.
• 我们 再 给 她 点 时间 。Wǒmen zài gěi tā diǎn shíjiān.We'll give her a little more time.
• 她 想 再 吃 点 冰淇淋 。Tā xiǎng zài chī diǎn bīngqílín.She wants to eat a little more ice cream.

再 as "continuous action"

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

Examples:

• 再 找 找。Zài zhǎo zhǎo.Keep looking for a little while.
• 再 等 等 他 吧。Zài děng děng tā ba.Keep waiting for him for a little while.
• 时间 还 早，再 玩 一会儿 吧。Shíjiān hái zǎo, zài wán yīhuǐ'er ba.It's still early. Let's keep playing for a while.
• 现在 才 六 点 半，我 想 再 睡 一会儿。Xiànzài cái liù diǎn bàn, wǒ xiǎng zài shuì yīhuǐ'er.I want to sleep a little longer. I'm so tired.
• 你们 想 不 想 再 休息 一会儿？Nǐmen xiǎng bù xiǎng zài xiūxi yīhuǐ'er?Do you guys want to rest for a little longer?

See also

• "Never again" with "zai ye bu"

• Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"

• Again in the past with "you"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 157) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 202) →buy

Websites

• Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: Using 再 and 又