Introduction
再 (zài) means "again" — but only for repetitions that have not happened yet. You already know it from 再见！(Zàijiàn!), literally "see you again". Like every adverb, it sits before the verb: 你再说一次。(Nǐ zài shuō yí cì.) — Say it once more.
Overview
Structure: Subj. + 再 (zài) + [Verb Phrase]
| Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Subj + 再 + Verb | 你再说一次。(Nǐ zài shuō yí cì.) | Say it once more. |
| 再 + Verb + 吧 | 明天再说吧。(Míngtiān zài shuō ba.) | Let's leave it till tomorrow. |
| 再 + Number + MW | 再来一个。(Zài lái yí ge.) | One more, please. |
| 不再 + Verb + 了 | 我不再去了。(Wǒ bú zài qù le.) | I'm not going there again. |
| Verb + 完 + 再 + Verb | 吃完饭再走。(Chī wán fàn zài zǒu.) | Leave after you've eaten. |
再 (zài) is for the future; 又 (yòu) is for the past:
- 明天再来。(Míngtiān zài lái.) — Come again tomorrow. It hasn't happened yet.
- 他又来了。(Tā yòu lái le.) — He's come again. It has already happened.
- Both mean "again", and choosing by tense is the whole rule.
- Do not mix up 再 (zài, again) with 在 (zài, at / in progress). Identical pinyin, different characters: 我在家 (wǒ zài jiā) — I'm at home; 我再来 (wǒ zài lái) — I'll come again.
Examples
请再说一遍。
Qǐng zài shuō yí biàn.
Please say that again.
明天再说吧。
Míngtiān zài shuō ba.
Let's talk about it tomorrow.
再来一杯咖啡。
Zài lái yì bēi kāfēi.
Another coffee, please.
你再等五分钟。
Nǐ zài děng wǔ fēnzhōng.
Wait another five minutes.
吃完饭再走吧。
Chī wán fàn zài zǒu ba.
Leave after you've finished eating.
欢迎再来！
Huānyíng zài lái!
Come again!
Usage Notes
- 再 (zài) goes after the time word and before the verb: 明天再来 (míngtiān zài lái), never 再明天来 (zài míngtiān lái).
- 再 has a second job — "then, after that" — in the pair 先……再…… (xiān … zài …): 先吃饭，再看电影。(Xiān chī fàn, zài kàn diànyǐng.) — Eat first, then watch a film.
- Ordering more of something is 再来 (zài lái) plus a number and measure word: 再来两个。(Zài lái liǎng ge.) — Two more, please.
- 再 (zài) is 4th tone, so 不 (bù) before it becomes bú: 不再 is bú zài.
- 明天再说吧 (míngtiān zài shuō ba) is also a gentle way of putting someone off — literally "let's speak again tomorrow".