While 又 (yòu) is used for "again" in the past, 再 (zài) is used for "again" in the future. That is, 再 is used when something has happened once and it will happen again.

再 as "Again"

Structure

Examples

我明天再来。Wǒ míngtiān zài lái.I'll come again tomorrow.
请再说一遍。Qǐng zài shuō yī biàn.Say it again, please.
我想再看一遍。Wǒ xiǎng zài kàn yībiàn.I want to watch it again.
我可以再试一下吗？Nǐ zài shì yīxià ma?Can I try it again?
我希望能再去一次。Wǒ xīwàng néng zài qù yī cì.I hope that I can go there again.

In fact, this structure is present in one of the most common Chinese phrases: "再见!" In this case, it literally means "See you again!"

再 as "Another" or "Some More"

Structure

Examples

再吃一点。Zài chī yīdiǎn.Eat more.
服务员，再来。Wǒmen zài zhǎo yī gè rén ba.Let's find another person.
我们再等他五分钟。Wǒmen zài děng tā wǔ fēnzhōng.Let's wait for him five more minutes.
你再给我五十块。Nǐ zài gěi wǒ wǔshí kuài.Give me fifty more kuai.
他问我们能不能再给他几天时间。Tā wèn wǒmen néng bu néng zài gěi tā jǐ tiān shíjiān.He asked if we can give him a few more days.

再 as "Continuous Action"

Here 再 is similar to the English "for a while longer" or "keep [going/doing]."

Structure

Examples

再找找。Zài zhǎozhao.Keep looking a little bit.
再等等他吧。Zài děngdeng tā ba.Keep waiting for him for a little while.
时间还早，再玩一会儿吧。Shíjiān hái zǎo, zài wán yīhuǐ'er ba.It's still early. Let's keep playing for a while.
现在才六点半，我想再睡一会儿。Xiànzài cái liù diǎn bàn, wǒ xiǎng zài shuì yīhuǐ'er.It's only 6:30. I want to sleep a little longer.
你们想不想再休息一会儿？Nǐmen xiǎng bu xiǎng zài xiūxi yīhuǐ'er? Do you guys want to rest for a little longer?

再 as "Again"

Structure

Examples

再 as "Another" or "Some More"

Structure

Examples

再 as "Continuous Action"

Structure

Examples

See Also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites