不再...了
Use 不再……了 when something used to be true but isn't anymore — 'no longer,' 'not anymore.' It marks a change of state: people used to be afraid, now they aren't (人们不再害怕了). The 不再 negates a continued action or state, and the sentence-final 了 confirms that the change has happened. Drop the 了 and you lose the 'and now this is the new reality' flavor — both pieces work together.
Structure
[SUBJECT] 不再 [VERB / ADJ] 了
bù zài... le
How to Think About It
不再 means 'no longer continuing,' and 了 stamps it as 'this is the current state now.' Think of it as a closed door: 不再 says 'this thing has stopped,' and 了 says 'and that stop has already taken effect.' Without 了 the sentence feels like it's listing a permanent trait ('he doesn't do that as a rule'); with 了 it captures the moment of transition.
Examples
我不再喝咖啡了。
Wǒ bù zài hē kāfēi le.
I don't drink coffee anymore.
这个城市不再是以前的样子了。
Zhège chéngshì bù zài shì yǐqián de yàngzi le.
This city is no longer what it used to be.
他们不再是朋友了。
Tāmen bù zài shì péngyǒu le.
They are not friends anymore.
Common Mistake
Learners confuse 不再 (bù zài, 'no longer') with 不在 (bù zài, 'not present/not at'). They sound identical but are different words. 不再 negates continuation; 不在 negates location or presence.
他不在工作了。 (intended: 'He doesn't work anymore')
他不再工作了。
Don't Confuse With
再也不……了
Stronger and more emotional — 'never again.' 不再 is neutral about the future; 再也不 swears off something for good.
没有……了
Says something is gone or used up ('there's no more rice'). 不再 says someone or something stopped doing/being something.
不在
Different word, same sound. 不在 means 'not present at a place' (他不在家). 不再 means 'no longer continuing.'
Practice
她____吸烟了。
Show answer
不再
我们不再是孩子____。
Show answer
了
Arrange: 了 / 不再 / 他 / 上班 / 这里 / 在
Show answer
他不再在这里上班了。
Translate: I don't live in Beijing anymore.
Show answer
我不再住在北京了。
Write one sentence using 不再……了 about a habit you've given up.
Show answer
我不再每天熬夜了，现在十一点就睡觉。
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode: