Difference between revisions of "Expressing "again" in the future with "zai""
| Line 66: | Line 66: | ||
*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> | *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> | ||
*<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> | *<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> | ||
| − | *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 | + | *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.</span> |
*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> | *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> | ||
Revision as of 08:31, 14 March 2018
-
Level
-
Similar to
- Expressing "again" in the past with "you" (B1)
- Expressing "the other" with "lingwai" (B1)
- Sequencing with "xian" and "zai" (B1)
- Comparing "zai" and "you" (B2)
- Expressing "never again" with "zai ye bu" (B2)
- Expressing "over and over again" with "zaisan" (B2)
- Expressing a last chance with "zaibu... jiu..." (B2)
- Expressing "even so" with "zaibu... ye..." (C1)
-
Used for
-
Keywords
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.
Contents
Used as "Again"
The basic structure for using the future "again" is:
Structure
Subj. + 再 + [Verb Phrase]
Examples
- 我们 明年 再 来 。We'll come again next year.
- 你 可以 再 说 一 遍 吗 ？Can you say it again, please?
- 要 不 要 再 试 一下 ？Would you like to try it again?
- 这 本 书 我 要 再 看 一 遍 。I want to read this book again.
- 老师 说 明天 要 再 复习 一 遍 。The teacher said we'll review it again tomorrow.
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 Phrase]
Examples
- 再 吃 一点 。Eat more.
- 再 点 几 个 菜 吧 。Let's order some more dishes.
- 服务员 ，再 来 两 瓶 啤酒 。Waiter, two more bottles of beer, please.
- 你 再 给 我 五十 块 。Give me fifty more kuai.
- 我 能 不 能 再 拿 两 个 ？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 Phrase]
Examples
- 再 找 找 。Keep looking.
- 不 急 ，再 想想 。Don't worry. Keep thinking.
- 再 等 一会儿 吧 。Let's wait a little longer.
- 时间 还 早 ，再 玩 一会儿 。It's still early. Let's keep playing.
- 现在 才 六 点 半 ，你 可以 再 睡 一会儿 。It's only half past six. You can sleep a little longer.
See also
- "Never again" with "zai ye bu"
- Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"
- Expressing "again" in the past with "you"
Sources and further reading
Books
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 157) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 202) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
Websites
- Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: Using 再 and 又
