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HSK 2

再

again; once more; then

adverbneutral
再
zài4th tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
zài
Part of speech
adverb
Level
HSK 2
Strokes
6
Register
neutral

Stroke order for 再

再 is written with 6 strokes. The animation replays automatically.

What does 再 mean?

再 (zài) is the Chinese adverb for 'again' or 'once more' — but specifically for actions that haven't happened yet or are about to happen.

再来一次 ('do it once more / one more time'), 再见 ('see you again' = goodbye). It sits BEFORE the verb. The crucial contrast every learner must master is 再 vs 又 (yòu): 再 looks FORWARD (future repetition or an unfulfilled action), 又 looks BACKWARD (something already happened again).

我明天再来 ('I'll come again tomorrow'); 他昨天又来了 ('he came again yesterday'). 再 also has a sequencing meaning ('then / and then' for ordering future actions): 先吃饭再去 ('eat first, then go'). Don't confuse 再 with 在 (zài, 'at / located at') — same pinyin, completely different jobs.

Example sentences

再见！

Zàijiàn!

Goodbye!

neutral

请再说一遍。

Qǐng zài shuō yí biàn.

Please say it again.

polite

我们明天再去吧。

Wǒmen míngtiān zài qù ba.

Let's go again tomorrow.

spoken

先吃饭，再做作业。

Xiān chī fàn, zài zuò zuòyè.

Eat first, then do homework.

neutral

我再也不想去那家餐厅了。

Wǒ zài yě bù xiǎng qù nà jiā cāntīng le.

I never want to go to that restaurant again.

spoken

Common phrases with 再

再见zàijiàngoodbye (literally 'see again')
再来一次zài lái yí cìdo it once more
再说zài shuōtalk about it later; say it again
再也不zài yě bùnever again
先…再…xiān…zài…first…then…

Synonyms

又yòu

又 is 'again' for things that ALREADY happened (looks back). 再 is 'again' for things that WILL happen or you want to happen (looks forward). 他又来了 ('he's come again' — already arrived) vs 你再来一次 ('come again' — invitation/instruction).

还hái

还 means 'still / additionally' for ongoing or supplemental things. 再 means 'one more time / again later.' 我还要 ('I want more / still want it') vs 我再要一个 ('I want one more').

Don't confuse 再 with

在zài

Identical pronunciation, completely different role. 在 = 'at / located at / -ing' (我在家 — 'I'm at home'). 再 = 'again' (再来 — 'come again'). Beginners mix these constantly; remember 再 has 一 on top, like a 'do-over line.'

又yòu

Both translate as 'again,' but 又 is for past repetition and 再 is for future. The mistake to avoid: 我明天又去 (wrong) — should be 我明天再去 ('I'll go again tomorrow').

FAQ

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