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:

  • 说 一次 吧。
  • 你 不 要 迟到。
  • 我 下 次 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 吃饭 谈。
  • 找 工作 考虑 买 房子。
  • 我们 吃 了 饭 去。

再 as "another" or "some more"

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

Examples:

  • 给 我 一 张 纸。
  • 我们 找 一 个 人 吧。
  • 她 想 做 一 个 新 的 作品。

Examples:

  • 给 我 一点 钱。
  • 我们 给 她 点 时间 。
  • 她 想 吃 点 冰淇淋 。

再 as "continuous action"

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

Examples:

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

See also

Sources and further reading

Books