Chinese word

再

Pronunciation

Pinyinzài

Meaning

  • adverbagain

Example

再说一遍zài shuō yí biàn

Say it again.

Illustration for 再 (again)

More examples

请再等一下。qǐng zài děng yí xià

Please wait a little longer.

Core concept

A step is added after what is already present, whether an action happens another time, an amount increases, or the next step follows.

Common phrases

  • 再说一遍zài shuō yí biàn

    say it again

  • 再等一下zài děng yí xià

    wait a little longer

  • 再来一次zài lái yí cì

    do it one more time

Similar words

又yòu: Showing that an earlier event happens another time.
还hái: Showing that a situation or condition still continues.

Definition in Chinese

表示在原有行为或状态基础上再增加一次，常用作副词放在动词前修饰动作的重复或继续。biǎo shì zài yuán yǒu xíng wéi huò zhuàng tài jī chǔ shàng zài zēng jiā yí cì cháng yòng zuò fù cí fàng zài dòng cí qián xiū shì dòng zuò de chóng fù huò jì xù

Word origin

The old Chinese word 再 (zài, "again") develops from the idea of a second occurrence to mark another action, an added amount, or a later step.

Usage tips

  • For English-speaking learners, 再 (zài, "again") usually comes before the verb, while English usually places "again" after the verb.

Other meanings

  • moreadverb
  • thenadverb

Word lists with this word