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= Sequencing with &quot;xian&quot; and &quot;zai&quot; =


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[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points B1]

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<li>[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22again%22_in_the_future_with_%22zai%22 Expressing &quot;again&quot; in the future with &quot;zai&quot;] (B1)</li>
<li>[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22again%22_in_the_past_with_%22you%22 Expressing &quot;again&quot; in the past with &quot;you&quot;] (B1)</li>
<li>[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Comparing_%22zai%22_and_%22you%22 Comparing &quot;zai&quot; and &quot;you&quot;] (B2)</li>
<li>[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22never_again%22_with_%22zai_ye_bu%22 Expressing &quot;never again&quot; with &quot;zai ye bu&quot;] (B2)</li></ul>


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[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Sequencing_events_in_time Sequencing events in time], [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_order Expressing order], [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Listing Listing]

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[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%85%88 先], [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%86%8D 再], [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%84%B6%E5%90%8E 然后]

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[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Then then], [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/First first]

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The word [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%86%8D 再 (zài)] actually has a lot of uses, beyond just [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Again_in_the_future_with_%22zai%22 &quot;again.&quot;] 先⋯⋯，再⋯⋯ (xiān..., zài...) is a pattern used for sequencing events, much like &quot;First..., then...&quot; in English. This pattern can also include 然后 (ránhòu) meaning &quot;and after that.&quot;

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== Contents ==

<span class="toctoggle"> [[[#|hide]]] </span>

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* [[#Basic_Usage|<span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Basic Usage</span>]]
** [[#Structure|<span class="tocnumber">1.1</span> <span class="toctext">Structure</span>]]
** [[#Examples|<span class="tocnumber">1.2</span> <span class="toctext">Examples</span>]]
* [[#Colloquial_Usage_with_.E5.86.8D.E8.AF.B4|<span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Colloquial Usage with 再说</span>]]
** [[#Structure_2|<span class="tocnumber">2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Structure</span>]]
** [[#Examples_2|<span class="tocnumber">2.2</span> <span class="toctext">Examples</span>]]
* [[#.22and_then....22_with_.E6.8E.A5.E7.9D.80|<span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">&quot;and then...&quot; with 接着</span>]]
* [[#Sources_and_further_reading|<span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Sources and further reading</span>]]
** [[#Books|<span class="tocnumber">4.1</span> <span class="toctext">Books</span>]]


</div>
== <span id="Basic_Usage" class="mw-headline">Basic Usage</span> ==

In the pattern below, 再 has a meaning of &quot;then&quot; or &quot;and then.&quot;

=== <span id="Structure" class="mw-headline">Structure</span> ===

<div class="jiegou">

先 ⋯⋯ ，再 ⋯⋯


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=== <span id="Examples" class="mw-headline">Examples</span> ===

<div class="liju">

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


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== <span id="Colloquial_Usage_with_.E5.86.8D.E8.AF.B4" class="mw-headline">Colloquial Usage with 再说</span> ==

You may have learned that [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22In_addition%22_with_%22zaishuo%22 再说 can mean &quot;in addition.&quot;] Well, this usage of 再 is a more literal combination of 再说, fitting into the 先⋯⋯再⋯⋯ pattern.

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

=== <span id="Structure_2" class="mw-headline">Structure</span> ===

Note that in the pattern below, the sentence normally ends with 再说.

<div class="jiegou">

先 + [Verb Phrase] + 再说


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=== <span id="Examples_2" class="mw-headline">Examples</span> ===

<div class="liju">

* ''先'' 吃饭 ''再 说'' 。<span class="pinyin">''Xiān'' chīfàn ''zài shuō''.</span><span class="trans">Let's eat first, then we'll talk.</span>
* ''先'' 休息 一下 ''再说'' 。<span class="pinyin">''Xiān'' xiūxi yīxià ''zàishuō''.</span><span class="trans">Let's rest a little first, then talk.</span>
* 你 ''先'' 看 完''再说'' 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ ''xiān'' kàn wán ''zàishuō''.</span><span class="trans">Finish reading first, and then we can talk.</span>
* 我 ''先'' 问 一下 老板 ''再说'' 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ ''xiān'' wèn yīxià lǎobǎn ''zàishuō''.</span><span class="trans">I'm going to ask the boss first.</span>
* 你们 ''先'' 讨论 一下 ''再说'' 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen ''xiān'' tǎolùn yīxià ''zàishuō''.</span><span class="trans">You guys discuss a little first, then we'll talk.</span>


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== <span id=".22and_then....22_with_.E6.8E.A5.E7.9D.80" class="mw-headline">&quot;and then...&quot; with 接着</span> ==

When describing a series of actions, steps, or consecutive events, your Chinese will sound more natural if you can diversify your conjunctions. [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%84%B6%E5%90%8E 然后] (ránhòu) is most commonly used, a conjunction which means &quot;[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/And_then and then].&quot; Alternatively, you can use 接着 (jīezhe), as a conjunction that means &quot;next,&quot; or &quot;afterwards.&quot;

A longer example to help you understand how they can all work together:

<div class="liju">

* 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 。<span class="pinyin">Jīn zǎo wǒ qǐchuáng yǐhòu ''xiān'' zhǔnbèi zǎofàn, ''zài'' jiào háizi men qǐchuáng, '''jiēzhe''' wǒmen yīqǐ chī zǎofàn, ''ránhòu'' wǒ sòng tāmen qù xuéxiào.</span><span class="trans">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>


</div>
== <span id="Sources_and_further_reading" class="mw-headline">Sources and further reading</span> ==

=== <span id="Books" class="mw-headline">Books</span> ===

* [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed) Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)] (pp. 258-9) [http://amzn.to/2xe9H5W →buy]
* [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_2 Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2] (pp. 19-20) [http://amzn.to/2ftpILV →buy]
* [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%EF%BC%8D%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87 卓越汉语－公司实战篇] (pp. 172) [ →buy]

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