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.

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 做 一 个 新 的 作品。

再 as "continuous action"

Here 再 is similar to the English "continually" or "keep going/doing".

Examples:

• 时间 还 早，你们 再 玩 一会儿 吧。
• 再 找 找，找 不 到 我们 就 回去。
• 我 想 再 睡 会儿，太 困 了。

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