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ChineseGrammarWiki


			
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<h1>Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"
</h1>


<p>The word 再 (zài) actually has a lot of uses, beyond just "again." 先⋯⋯，再⋯⋯ (xiān..., zài...) is a pattern used for sequencing events, much like "First..., then..." in English. This pattern can also include 然后 (ránhòu) meaning "and after that."
</p>
<h2>Contents</h2>
<div class="contents"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">1 Basic Usage </span><br/></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">1.1 Structure </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">1.2 Examples </span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">2 Colloquial Usage with 再说 </span><br/></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">2.1 Structure </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">2.2 Examples </span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">3 "and then..." with 接着 </span><br/></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">4 Sources and further reading </span><br/></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">4.1 Books</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<h2>Basic Usage</h2>

<p>In the pattern below, 再 has a meaning of "then" or "and then."</p>

<h3>Structure</h3>

<div class="deux">先 ⋯⋯ ，再 ⋯⋯</div>

<h3>Examples</h3>

<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">先 洗 手 再 吃。
Xiān xǐ shǒu zài chī.
Wash your hands first, and then eat. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">我 喜欢 先 洗澡 ，再 睡觉。
Wǒ xǐhuan xiān xǐzǎo, zài shuìjiào.
I prefer to take a bath before I go to bed. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">请 你 先 买 票 再 进。
Qǐng nǐ xiān mǎi piào zài jìn.
Please buy a ticket before you enter. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">你 要 先 做 作业 ，再 看 电视。
Nǐ yào xiān zuò zuòyè, zài kàn diànshì.
First you need to do your homework, and then you can watch TV. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">我 想 先 找 工作 ，再 搬家 。
Wǒ xiǎng xiān zhǎo gōngzuò, zài bānjiā.
I want to find a job first, and then move to a new place.</span><br/></li>
</ul>
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<h2>Colloquial Usage with 再说</h2>

<p>You may have learned that 再说 can mean "in addition." Well, this usage of 再 is a more literal combination of 再说, fitting into the 先⋯⋯再⋯⋯ pattern.</p>

<p>So in this usage, 再说 doesn't really mean "in addition." Rather, it most literally means "and then we'll talk." In other words, "let's just do this now," and then after we see the result, we can talk some more about next steps. There's kind of a "let's see how this goes first" feeling to the expression.
</p>
<h3>Structure</h3>

<p>Note that in the pattern below, the sentence normally ends with 再说.</p>

<div class="deux">先 + [Verb Phrase] + 再说
</div>
<h3>Examples</h3>

<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">先 吃饭 再 说 。
Xiān chīfàn zài shuō.
Let's eat first, then we'll talk. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">先 休息 一下 再说 。
Xiān xiūxi yīxià zàishuō.
Let's rest a little first, then talk. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">你 先 看 完再说 。
Nǐ xiān kàn wán zàishuō.
Finish reading first, and then we can talk. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">我 先 问 一下 老板 再说 。
Wǒ xiān wèn yīxià lǎobǎn zàishuō.
I'm going to ask the boss first. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">你们 先 讨论 一下 再说 。
Nǐmen xiān tǎolùn yīxià zàishuō.
You guys discuss a little first, then we'll talk.</span><br/></li>
</ul>
</div>


<h2>"and then..." with 接着</h2>

<p>When describing a series of actions, steps, or consecutive events, your Chinese will sound more natural if you can diversify your conjunctions. 然后 (ránhòu) is most commonly used, a conjunction which means "and then." Alternatively, you can use 接着 (jīezhe), as a conjunction that means "next," or "afterwards."
</p>
<p>A longer example to help you understand how they can all work together:
</p>
<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">今 早 我 起床 以后 先 准备 早饭 ，再 叫 孩子们 起床 ，接着 我们 一起 吃早饭 ，然后 我 送 他们 去 学校 。
Jīn zǎo wǒ qǐchuáng yǐhòu xiān zhǔnbèi zǎofàn, zài jiào háizi men qǐchuáng, jiēzhe wǒmen yīqǐ chī zǎofàn, ránhòu wǒ sòng tāmen qù xuéxiào.
After I got up this morning, I first prepared breakfast, and then I woke up the kids. Afterwards, we ate breakfast together. After that, I took them to school.</span><br/></li>
</ul>
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<h2>Sources and further reading</h2>

<h3>Books</h3>

<div class="See-also"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 258-9) →buy </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 19-20) →buy </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 172) [ →buy]</span><br/></li>
</ul>
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