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

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
 
 
While 又 (yòu) is used for [[Again in the past with "you"|"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.  
 
While 又 (yòu) is used for [[Again in the past with "you"|"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.  
  
== as "Again" ==
+
== Used as "Again" ==
  
The basic structure for using the ''future'' "again" is:
+
Remember this is the ''future'' "again."
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 再 + Verb Phrase
+
Subj. + 再 + [Verb Phrase]
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*我 明天 <em>再</em> 来 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ míngtiān <em>zài</em> lái.</span><span class="trans">I'll come again tomorrow.</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> 说 一 遍 。<span class="pinyin">Qǐng <em>zài</em> shuō yī biàn.</span><span class="trans">Say it again, please.</span>
+
*<em>再</em> 试 一下 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> shì yīxià.</span><span class="trans">Try it again.</span>
*我 想 <em>再</em> 一 遍 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng <em>zài</em> kàn yībiàn.</span><span class="trans">I want to watch it again.</span>
+
*你 可以 <em>再</em> 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>
*我 可以 <em>再</em> 试 一下 吗 ?<span class="pinyin"><em>zài</em> shì yīxià ma?</span><span class="trans">Can I try it again?</span>
+
*这 本 书 <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>
*我 希望 能 <em>再</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xīwàng néng <em>zài</em> .</span><span class="trans">I hope that I can go there again.</span>
+
*你 应该 <em>再</em> 复习 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yīnggāi <em>zài</em> fùxí biàn.</span><span class="trans">You should review it again.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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!"
+
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."
  
== as "Another" or "Some More" ==
+
== Used as "Another" or "Some More" ==
  
 
The English word "another" is often avoided altogether by using 再.
 
The English word "another" is often avoided altogether by using 再.
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 再 + Verb-Obj.
+
Subj. + 再 + Verb + Obj.
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
 +
In this case, the object includes a quantity phrase.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*<em>再</em> 吃 一点 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> chī yīdiǎn.</span><span class="trans">Eat more.</span>
+
*<em>再</em> 吃 <strong>一点</strong> 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> chī <strong>yīdiǎn</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Eat some more.</span>
*服务员 ,<em>再</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>zài</em> zhǎo yī rén ba.</span><span class="trans">Let's find another person.</span>
+
*<em>再</em> 点 <strong>几个 菜</strong> 吧 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> diǎn <strong>jǐ cài</strong> ba.</span><span class="trans">Let's order some more dishes.</span>
*我们 <em>再</em> 等 他 五 分钟 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>zài</em> děng tā wǔ fēnzhōng.</span><span class="trans">Let's wait for him five more minutes.</span>
+
*服务员 ,<em>再</em> 来 <strong>两 瓶 啤酒</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Fúwùyuán, <em>zài</em> lái <strong>liǎng píng píjiǔ</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Waiter, two more bottles of beer, please.</span>
*<em>再</em> 给 我 五十 块 。<span class="pinyin"><em>zài</em> gěi wǒ wǔshí kuài.</span><span class="trans">Give me fifty more kuai.</span>
+
*<em>再</em> 给 我 <strong>三天 时间</strong> 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> gěi wǒ <strong>sān tiān shíjiān</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Give me another three days.</span>
*他 问 我们 能 不 能 <em>再</em> 给 他 几 天 时间 。<span class="pinyin">Tā wèn wǒmen néng bu néng <em>zài</em> gěi tā jǐ tiān shíjiān.</span><span class="trans">He asked if we can give him a little more time.</span>
+
*能 不 能 <em>再</em> 拿 <strong>两 个</strong> ?<span class="pinyin">néng bu néng <em>zài</em> ná <strong>liǎng gè</strong>?</span><span class="trans">Can I take two more?</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== 再 as "Continuous Action" ==
+
== Used for Continuous Action ==
  
 
Here 再 is similar to the English "for a while longer" or "keep [going/doing]."
 
Here 再 is similar to the English "for a while longer" or "keep [going/doing]."
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 再 + Verb Phrase
+
Subj. + 再 + Verb + Verb
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 +
*<em>再</em> 找找 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> zhǎozhao.</span><span class="trans">Keep looking.</span>
 +
*你 <em>再</em> 问问 。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zài</em> wènwen.</span><span class="trans">Keep asking.</span>
 +
*别 急 ,<em>再</em> 想想 。<span class="pinyin">Bié jí, <em>zài</em> xiǎngxiang.</span><span class="trans">Don't worry. Keep thinking.</span>
 +
</div>
  
*<em>再</em> 找 找 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> zhǎozhao.</span><span class="trans">Keep looking a little bit.</span>
+
You can also add 一会儿 after the verb to mean "keep doing something a little longer."  
*<em>再</em> 等 等 他 吧 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> děngdeng tā ba.</span><span class="trans">Keep waiting for him for a little while.</span>
 
*时间 还 早,<em>再</em> 玩 一会儿 吧 。<span class="pinyin">Shíjiān hái zǎo, <em>zài</em> wán yīhuǐ'er ba.</span><span class="trans">It's still early. Let's keep playing for a while.</span>
 
*现在 才 六 点 半,我 想 <em>再</em> 睡 一会儿 。<span class="pinyin">Xiànzài cái liù diǎn bàn, wǒ xiǎng <em>zài</em> shuì yīhuǐ'er.</span><span class="trans">It's only 6:30. I want to sleep a little longer.</span>
 
*你们 想 不 想 <em>再</em> 休息 一会儿 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen xiǎng bu xiǎng <em>zài</em> xiūxi yīhuǐ'er? </span><span class="trans">Do you guys want to rest for a little longer? </span>
 
  
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
*<em>再</em> 聊 一会儿 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> liáo yīhuǐr.</span><span class="trans">Keep talking for a little bit.</span>
 +
*<em>再</em> 等 一会儿 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zài</em> děng yīhuǐr.</span><span class="trans">Wait a little longer.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== See Also ==
+
You can use either the "Verb + Verb" pattern or the 一会儿 pattern with 再, but don't use them together.
 +
 
 +
== See also ==
  
 
* [["Never again" with "zai ye bu"]]
 
* [["Never again" with "zai ye bu"]]
 
 
* [[Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"]]
 
* [[Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"]]
 
+
* [[Expressing "again" in the past with "you"]]
* [[Again in the past with "you"]]
 
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (pp. 157) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy]
+
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|60}}
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (pp. 202) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy]
+
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|157}}
 +
{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)|202}}
  
===Websites===
+
=== Websites ===
  
 
* Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0212.html Using 再 and 又]
 
* Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0212.html Using 再 and 又]
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 +
{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|再|B1|再 + Verb|我 下 次 <em>再</em> 来。|grammar point|ASGIZQJ2}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|再|B1|再 + Verb|我 下 次 <em>再</em> 来。|grammar point|ASGIZQJ2}}
 
{{Similar|"Never again" with "zai ye bu"}}
 
{{Similar|"Never again" with "zai ye bu"}}
 
{{Similar|Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"}}
 
{{Similar|Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"}}
 
{{Similar|Comparing "zai" and "you"}}
 
{{Similar|Comparing "zai" and "you"}}
 +
{{Similar|Expressing "again" in the past with "you"}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing time and date}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing time and date}}
 
{{POS|Adverbs}}
 
{{POS|Adverbs}}
 
{{Translation|again}}
 
{{Translation|again}}
 +
{{Translation|another}}

Latest revision as of 08:56, 21 April 2021

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"

Remember this is the future "again."

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 + Obj.

In this case, the object includes a quantity phrase.

Examples

  • 一点Zài chī yīdiǎn.Eat some more.
  • 几个 菜 吧 。Zài diǎn jǐ gè cài ba.Let's order some more dishes.
  • 服务员 ,两 瓶 啤酒Fúwùyuán, zài lái liǎng píng píjiǔ.Waiter, two more bottles of beer, please.
  • 给 我 三天 时间Zài gěi wǒ sān tiān shíjiān.Give me another three days.
  • 我 能 不 能 两 个Wǒ néng bu néng zàiliǎng 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 + Verb

Examples

  • 找找 。Zài zhǎozhao.Keep looking.
  • 问问 。 zài wènwen.Keep asking.
  • 别 急 , 想想 。Bié jí, zài xiǎngxiang.Don't worry. Keep thinking.

You can also add 一会儿 after the verb to mean "keep doing something a little longer."

  • 聊 一会儿 。Zài liáo yīhuǐr.Keep talking for a little bit.
  • 等 一会儿 。Zài děng yīhuǐr.Wait a little longer.

You can use either the "Verb + Verb" pattern or the 一会儿 pattern with 再, but don't use them together.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites