Difference between revisions of "Expressing "again" in the future with "zai""

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*我们 明年 <em>再</em> 来 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen míngnián <em>zài</em> lái.</span><span class="trans">We'll come again next year.</span>
 
*我们 明年 <em>再</em> 来 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen míngnián <em>zài</em> lái.</span><span class="trans">We'll come again next year.</span>
 +
*<em>再</em> 试 一下 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> shì yīxià.</span><span class="trans">Try it again.</span>
 
*你 可以 <em>再</em> 说 一 遍 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ <em>zài</em> shuō yī biàn ma?</span><span class="trans">Can you please say it again?</span>
 
*你 可以 <em>再</em> 说 一 遍 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ <em>zài</em> shuō yī biàn ma?</span><span class="trans">Can you please say it again?</span>
*要 不 要 <em>再</em> 试 一下 ?<span class="pinyin">Yào bù yào<em>zài</em> shì yīxià?</span><span class="trans">Would you like to try it again?</span>
 
 
*这 本 书 我 要 <em>再</em> 看 一 遍 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè běn shū wǒ yào <em>zài</em> kàn yī biàn.</span><span class="trans">I want to read this book again.</span>
 
*这 本 书 我 要 <em>再</em> 看 一 遍 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè běn shū wǒ yào <em>zài</em> kàn yī biàn.</span><span class="trans">I want to read this book again.</span>
 
*你 应该 <em>再</em> 复习 一 遍 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yīnggāi <em>zài</em> fùxí yī biàn.</span><span class="trans">You should review it again.</span>
 
*你 应该 <em>再</em> 复习 一 遍 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yīnggāi <em>zài</em> fùxí yī biàn.</span><span class="trans">You should review it again.</span>

Revision as of 06:36, 20 April 2018

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.

Used as "Again"

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

Structure

Subj. + 再 + [Verb Phrase]

Examples

  • 我们 明年 来 。Wǒmen míngnián zài lái.We'll come again next year.
  • 试 一下 。Zài shì yīxià.Try it again.
  • 你 可以 说 一 遍 吗 ?Nǐ kěyǐ zài shuō yī biàn ma?Can you please say it again?
  • 这 本 书 我 要 看 一 遍 。Zhè běn shū wǒ yào zài kàn yī biàn.I want to read this book again.
  • 你 应该 复习 一 遍 。Nǐ yīnggāi zài fùxí yī biàn.You should review it again.

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

  • 吃 一点 。Zài chī yīdiǎn.Eat more.
  • 点 几 个 菜 吧 。Zài diǎn jǐ gè cài ba.Let's order some more dishes.
  • 服务员 , 来 两 瓶 啤酒 。Fúwùyuán, zài lái liǎng píng píjiǔ.Waiter, two more bottles of beer, please.
  • 给 我 五十 块 。zài gěi wǒ wǔshí kuài.Give me fifty more kuai.
  • 我 能 不 能 拿 两 个 ?Wǒ néng bu néng zài ná liǎng gè?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

  • 找找 。Zài zhǎozhao.Keep looking.
  • 问问 。 zài wènwen.Keep asking and ask someone else.
  • 试试 。Zài shìshi.Keep trying.
  • 等等 。Zài děngdeng.Let's wait a little longer.
  • 别 急 , 想想 。Bié jí, zài xiǎngxiang.Don't worry. Keep thinking.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites