Expressing "again" in the future with "zai"
While 又 is used for "again" in the past, 再 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"
The basic structure for using the future "again" is:
Subject + 再 + Verb + Object
Some examples:
- 再 说 一次 吧。
- 你 不 要 再 迟到。
- 我 下 次 再 来。
再 as "And then"
A usage that feels sort of related but deserves separate mention is the use of 再 to mean "and then." It is often preceded by 先 when giving clear sequential orders ("first do this... then do this..."), but it can also appear by itself to mean "and then."
The examples:
- 我们 先 吃饭 再 谈。
- 你 先 找 工作 再 考虑 买 房子。
- 我们 吃 了 饭 再 去。
再 as "Another"
The English word "another" is often avoided altogether by using 再.
Examples:
- 你 再 给 我 一 张 纸。
- 我们 再 找 一 个 人 吧。
- 她 想 再 创造 一 个 新 的 作品。
