Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"

The word 再 (zài) actually has a lot of uses, beyond just "again." "先⋯⋯， 再⋯⋯" (xiān..., zài...) is a pattern used for sequencing events, much like "First..., then..." in English. This pattern can also include "然后" (ránhòu) meaning "and after that."

General Usage of 先 and 再

In the pattern below, 再 has a meaning of "then" or "and then."

Structure

先 + [Verb Phrase 1] + 再 + [Verb Phrase 2]

Examples

• 先 洗 手 再 吃。Xiān xǐ shǒu zài chī.Wash your hands, and then eat.
• 我 喜欢 先 洗澡，再 睡觉。Wǒ xǐhuan xiān xǐzǎo, zài shuìjiào.I prefer to take a bath before I go to bed.
• 请 你 先 买 票 再 进。Qǐng nǐ xiān mǎi piào zài jìn.Please buy a ticket first, and then you come in.
• 你 要 先 做 作业再 看 电视。Tā yào xiān zuò zuòyè, zài kàn diànshì.First you need to do your homework, and then you can watch.
• 你 先 找 工作 再 考虑 买 房子。Nǐ xiān zhǎo gōngzuò zài kǎolǜ mǎi fángzi.First find a job, then you can think about buying a house.

Using 再说

You may have learned that "再说" can mean "in addition." Well, this usage of 再 is a more literal combination of 再 + 说, fitting into the 先⋯⋯再⋯⋯ pattern.

So in this usage, 再说 doesn't really mean "in addition." Rather, it most literally means "and then we'll talk." In other words, "let's just do this now," and then after we see the result, we can talk some more about next steps. There's kind of a "let's see how this goes first" feeling to the expression.

Structure

Note that in the pattern below, the sentence normally ends with 再说.

先 + [Verb Phrase] + 再说

Examples

• 先 吃饭 再说 。Xiān chīfàn zàishuō.Let's eat first, then we'll talk.
• 先 休息 一下 再说 。Xiān xiūxi yīxià zàishuō.Let's rest a little first, then talk.
• 你 先 看 完再说 。Nǐ xiān kàn wán zàishuō.Finish reading first, and then we can talk.
• 我 先 问 一下 老板 再说 。Wǒ xiān wèn yīxià lǎobǎn zàishuō.I'm going to ask the boss first.
• 你们 先 讨论 一下 再说 。Nǐmen xiān tǎolùn yīxià zàishuō.You guys discuss a little first, then we'll talk.

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 258-9) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 19-20) →buy
• 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (p. 172) →buy