Difference between revisions of "Sequencing with "xian" and "zai""

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
The word [[再|再 (zài)]] actually has a lot of uses, beyond just [[Again in the future with "zai"|"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."  
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The word [[再|再 (zài)]] actually has a lot of uses, beyond just [[Again in the future with "zai"|"again,"]] and in this pattern it means something like "and then." 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 ==
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== Basic Usage ==
  
In the pattern below, 再 has a meaning of "then" or "and then."
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In the pattern below, 先 means "first" and 再 has a meaning of "then" or "and then."
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
+
⋯⋯ ,再 ⋯⋯
+ [Verb Phrase 1] + 再 + [Verb Phrase 2]
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*<em>先</em> 洗 手 <em>再</em> 吃。<span class="pinyin"><em>Xiān</em> xǐ shǒu <em>zài</em> chī.</span><span class="trans">Wash your hands, and then eat.</span>
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*<em>先</em> 洗 手 <em>再</em> 吃。<span class="pinyin"><em>Xiān</em> xǐ shǒu <em>zài</em> chī.</span><span class="trans">Wash your hands first, and then eat.</span>
*我 喜欢 <em>先</em> 洗澡,<em>再</em> 睡觉。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xǐhuan <em>xiān</em> xǐzǎo, <em>zài</em> shuìjiào.</span><span class="trans">I prefer to take a bath before I go to bed.</span>
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*我 喜欢 <em>先</em> 洗澡 ,<em>再</em> 睡觉 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xǐhuan <em>xiān</em> xǐzǎo, <em>zài</em> shuìjiào.</span><span class="trans">I prefer to take a bath first and then go to bed.</span>
*请 你 <em>先</em> 买 票 <em>再</em> 进。<span class="pinyin">Qǐng nǐ <em>xiān</em> mǎi piào <em>zài</em> jìn.</span><span class="trans">Please buy a ticket first, and then you come in.</span>
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*请 你 <em>先</em> 买 票 <em>再</em> 进去。<span class="pinyin">Qǐng nǐ <em>xiān</em> mǎi piào <em>zài</em> jìnqù.</span><span class="trans">Please buy a ticket first and then enter.</span>
*你 要 <em>先</em> 做 作业<em>再</em> 看 电视。<span class="pinyin">yào <em>xiān</em> zuò zuòyè, <em>zài</em> kàn diànshì.</span><span class="trans">First you need to do your homework, and then you can watch.</span>
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*你 要 <em>先</em> 做 作业 <em>再</em> 看 电视。<span class="pinyin">yào <em>xiān</em> zuò zuòyè, <em>zài</em> kàn diànshì.</span><span class="trans">You need to do your homework first, and then watch TV.</span>
*<em>先</em> 找 工作 <em>再</em> 考虑 买 房子。<span class="pinyin"><em>xiān</em> zhǎo gōngzuò <em>zài</em> kǎolǜ mǎi fángzi.</span><span class="trans">First find a job, then you can think about buying a house.</span>
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*我 想 <em>先</em> 找 工作 <em>再</em> 搬家 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng <em>xiān</em> zhǎo gōngzuò, <em>zài</em> bānjiā.</span><span class="trans">I want to find a job first, and then move.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Using 再说 ==
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== Colloquial Usage with 再说 ==
  
You may have learned that [["In addition" with "zaishuo"|"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.
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You may have learned that [["In addition" with "zaishuo"|再说 can mean "in addition."]] Well, the usage of 再 here 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.
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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 a "let's see how this goes first" feeling to the expression.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
先 + [Verb Phrase] + 再说
 
先 + [Verb Phrase] + 再说
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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 +
The 再说 part in the following sentences can be a little tricky to translate into English.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* <em>先</em> 吃饭 <em>再说</em> 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Xiān</em> chīfàn <em>zàishuō</em>.</span><span class="trans">Let's eat first, then we'll talk.</span>
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*<em>先</em> 吃饭 <em>再 说</em> 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Xiān</em> chīfàn <em>zài shuō</em>.</span><span class="trans">Let's eat first, then we'll talk.</span>
*<em>先</em> 休息 一下 <em>再说</em> 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Xiān</em> xiūxi yīxià <em>zàishuō</em>.</span><span class="trans">Let's rest a little first, then talk.</span>
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*<em>先</em> 休息 一下 <em>再说</em> 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Xiān</em> xiūxi yīxià <em>zàishuō</em>.</span><span class="trans">Let's rest a little first, then we'll see.</span>
*你 <em>先</em> 看 完<em>再说</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>xiān</em> kàn wán <em>zàishuō</em>.</span><span class="trans">Finish reading first, and then we can talk.</span>
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*你 <em>先</em> 看 完 <em>再说</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>xiān</em> kàn wán <em>zàishuō</em>.</span><span class="trans">Finish reading first, and then we'll see.</span>
*我 <em>先</em> 问 一下 老板 <em>再说</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>xiān</em> wèn yīxià lǎobǎn <em>zàishuō</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm going to ask the boss first.</span>
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*我 <em>先</em> 问 一下 老板 <em>再说</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>xiān</em> wèn yīxià lǎobǎn <em>zàishuō</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm going to ask the boss first before doing anything else.</span>
*你们 <em>先</em> 讨论 一下 <em>再说</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>xiān</em> tǎolùn yīxià <em>zàishuō</em>.</span><span class="trans">You guys discuss a little first, then we'll talk.</span>
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*你们 <em>先</em> 讨论 一下 <em>再说</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>xiān</em> tǎolùn yīxià <em>zàishuō</em>.</span><span class="trans">You guys discuss a little first, then we'll figure out what to do next.</span>
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</div>
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== "and then..." with 接着 ==
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When describing a series of actions, steps, or consecutive events, your Chinese will sound more natural if you can diversify your conjunctions. [[然后]] (ránhòu) is most commonly used, a conjunction which means "[[and then]]." Alternatively, you can use 接着 (jīezhe), as a conjunction that means "next," or "afterwards."
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 +
A longer example to help you understand how they can all work together:
  
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
*今天 早上 我 起床 以后 <em>先</em> 准备 早饭 ,<em>再</em> 叫 孩子们 起床 ,<strong>接着</strong> 我们 一起 吃早饭 ,<em>然后</em> 我 送 他们 去 学校 。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ qǐchuáng yǐhòu <em>xiān</em> zhǔnbèi zǎofàn, <em>zài</em> jiào háizi men qǐchuáng, <strong>jiēzhe</strong> wǒmen yīqǐ chī zǎofàn, <em>ránhòu</em> wǒ sòng tāmen qù xuéxiào.</span><span class="trans">After I got up this morning, I first prepared breakfast, and then I woke up the kids. Next, we ate breakfast together. After that, I took them to school. </span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 258-9) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 3|119}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2]] (pp. 19-20) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0887276881 →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 4下|105}}
*[[卓越汉语-公司实战篇]] (p. 172) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD-%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87-%E8%83%A1%E7%81%B5%E5%9D%87/dp/B003QZWQ6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347863170&sr=8-1 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|258-9}}
 
+
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2|19-20}}
 +
{{Source|卓越汉语-公司实战篇|172}}
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|先|B1|先⋯⋯ 再⋯⋯|<em>先</em> 洗 手,<em>再</em> 吃饭。|grammar point|ASGLJM55}}
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{{HSK|HSK3}}
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{{HSK|HSK4}}
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{{Basic Grammar|先|B1|先⋯⋯ ,再⋯⋯|<em>先</em> 洗 手 ,<em>再</em> 吃饭 。|grammar point|ASGLJM55}}
 
{{Rel char|再}}
 
{{Rel char|再}}
 
{{Rel char|然后}}
 
{{Rel char|然后}}
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{{Used for|Expressing order}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing order}}
 
{{Used for|Listing}}
 
{{Used for|Listing}}
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
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{{POS|Adverbs}}
 
{{Translation|then}}
 
{{Translation|then}}
 
{{Translation|first}}
 
{{Translation|first}}

Latest revision as of 04:48, 9 March 2019

The word 再 (zài) actually has a lot of uses, beyond just "again," and in this pattern it means something like "and then." 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."

Basic Usage

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

Structure

先 ⋯⋯ ,再 ⋯⋯

Examples

  • 洗 手 吃。Xiān xǐ shǒu zài chī.Wash your hands first, and then eat.
  • 我 喜欢 洗澡 , 睡觉 。Wǒ xǐhuan xiān xǐzǎo, zài shuìjiào.I prefer to take a bath first and then go to bed.
  • 请 你 买 票 进去。Qǐng nǐ xiān mǎi piào zài jìnqù.Please buy a ticket first and then enter.
  • 你 要 做 作业 , 看 电视。Nǐ yào xiān zuò zuòyè, zài kàn diànshì.You need to do your homework first, and then watch TV.
  • 我 想 找 工作 , 搬家 。Wǒ xiǎng xiān zhǎo gōngzuò, zài bānjiā.I want to find a job first, and then move.

Colloquial Usage with 再说

You may have learned that 再说 can mean "in addition." Well, the usage of 再 here 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 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

The 再说 part in the following sentences can be a little tricky to translate into English.

  • 吃饭 再 说Xiān chīfàn zài shuō.Let's eat first, then we'll talk.
  • 休息 一下 再说Xiān xiūxi yīxià zàishuō.Let's rest a little first, then we'll see.
  • 看 完 再说xiān kàn wán zàishuō.Finish reading first, and then we'll see.
  • 问 一下 老板 再说xiān wèn yīxià lǎobǎn zàishuō.I'm going to ask the boss first before doing anything else.
  • 你们 讨论 一下 再说Nǐmen xiān tǎolùn yīxià zàishuō.You guys discuss a little first, then we'll figure out what to do next.

"and then..." with 接着

When describing a series of actions, steps, or consecutive events, your Chinese will sound more natural if you can diversify your conjunctions. 然后 (ránhòu) is most commonly used, a conjunction which means "and then." Alternatively, you can use 接着 (jīezhe), as a conjunction that means "next," or "afterwards."

A longer example to help you understand how they can all work together:

  • 今天 早上 我 起床 以后 准备 早饭 , 叫 孩子们 起床 ,接着 我们 一起 吃早饭 ,然后 我 送 他们 去 学校 。Jīntiān zǎoshang wǒ qǐchuáng yǐhòu xiān zhǔnbèi zǎofàn, zài jiào háizi men qǐchuáng, jiēzhe wǒmen yīqǐ chī zǎofàn, ránhòu wǒ sòng tāmen qù xuéxiào.After I got up this morning, I first prepared breakfast, and then I woke up the kids. Next, we ate breakfast together. After that, I took them to school.

Sources and further reading

Books