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Both adverbs “再” and “又”translate to “again” and are used to express the repetition of an action. They, however, are not interchangeable. Are you confused about how to use them correctly? Do you know the differences between them?
Basic Uses of “再”
1.“再” can express the repetition or continuation of an action that hasn’t happened yet.
Subj. + 再 + Verb
你可以再去一次中国。
nǐ kěyǐ zài qù yīcì zhōngguó
You can go to China again.
我再说一遍这个答案。
wǒ zàishuō yībiàn zhège dá’àn
I will repeat this answer.
我想再试一次。
wǒ xiǎng zài shì yīcì
I want to try again.
2. In some cases, “再” means “then” and introduces a second action that can only take place after the first one is completed.
The basic pattern: Subj. + Action(1) + 再 + Action(2)
你吃完再说。
nǐ chī wán zàishuō
You will finish eating and then speak.
我们到那儿再买吧。
wǒmen dào nà’er zài mǎi ba
We go there first and then buy something.
The pattern with “先/xiān”: Subj. +先 + Action(1) + 再 + Action(2)
你先说问题再说解决办法。
nǐ xiān shuō wèntí zàishuō jiějué bànfǎ
You talk about the problem first and then talk about the solution.
我们先刷牙再洗脸。
wǒmen xiān shuāyá zài xǐliǎn
We first brush teeth and then wash face.
3. “再“, in some cases, can be used to describe an adjective, similar to “much more” in English.
Subj. + 再 + Adj.
请你再勇敢一点。
qǐng nǐ zài yǒnggǎn yīdiǎn
Please be braver.
我需要再大一点的尺寸。
wǒ xūyào zài dà yīdiǎn de chǐcùn
I need a bigger one.
爸爸，你走得再慢点。
bàba, nǐ zǒu dé zài màn diǎn
Dad, please walk slower.
4. “再”can also be used before a verb to introduce an additional action.
I want to tell you a lot, but I don’t know where to start.
他很怕冷，但又不愿意多穿衣服。
tā hěn pà lěng, dàn yòu bù yuànyì duō chuān yīfú
He can’t handle the cold, but he still refuses to wrap up warm.
Strengthen negative tone
你怎么又来了？
nǐ zěnme yòu láile
Why are you here again？[complaining/impatient]
他又不是不认识路！
tā yòu bùshì bù rènshí lù
It’s impossible that he doesn‘t know the way! [impatient/angry]
The differences between “再” and “又” used as “again”
According to the above introduction, “再” and “又” are used differently. Although both can express the repetition of an action, the differences between them are still obvious, which means they can‘t interchangeable completely.
1. “再” expresses the repetition of an action in the future, while “又” expresses the repetition of an action that has already occurred in the past.
我们明年又去看他吧。
wǒmen míngnián yòu qù kàn tā ba
我们明年再去看他吧。✔
wǒmen míngnián zài qù kàn tā ba
Let’s go to visit him again next year.
后来国王再结婚了。
hòulái guówáng zài jiéhūnle
后来国王又结婚了。✔
hòulái guówáng yòu jiéhūnle
Then the king got married again.
2.“又” sometimes can be used for the repetition of actions that have not yet taken place. It usually appears with 要 (yào), 可以 (kěyǐ), 能 (néng), or 是 (shì). In this case, “再” can‘t be used.
⇒ Predict that a situation with regularity will recur.
明天再是星期天了。
míngtiān zài shì xīngqítiānle
明天又是星期天了。✔
míngtiān yòu shì xīngqítiānle
Tomorrow is Sunday again.
⇒ When the speaker thinks that the action is repeated too many times.
你再要出差？
nǐ zài yào chūchāi
你又要出差？✔
nǐ yòu yào chūchāi
Will you have a business trip again?
3.”再这么+Verb” means that the speaker does not want the action or state to continue, but “又” has no such usage.
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