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[](# "wikilink")
Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"
================================
[](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/ASGLJM55)
-
Level
[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)
-
Similar to
- [Expressing "again" in the future with
"zai"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22again%22_in_the_future_with_%22zai%22) (B1)
- [Expressing "again" in the past with
"you"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22again%22_in_the_past_with_%22you%22) (B1)
- [Comparing "zai" and
"you"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Comparing_%22zai%22_and_%22you%22) (B2)
- [Expressing "never again" with "zai ye
bu"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22never_again%22_with_%22zai_ye_bu%22) (B2)
-
Used for
[Sequencing events in
time](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Sequencing_events_in_time),
[Expressing
order](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_order),
[Listing](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Listing)
-
Keywords
[先](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%85%88),
[再](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%86%8D),
[然后](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%84%B6%E5%90%8E)
-
Translations
[then](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Then),
[first](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/First)
[{width="300"
height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-zai-2.jpg)
Contents
--------
[hide]([# "wikilink")\]
- [1 Basic
Usage](#Basic_Usage "wikilink")
- [1.1
Structure](#Structure "wikilink")
- [1.2
Examples](#Examples "wikilink")
- [2 Colloquial
Usage with
再说](#Colloquial_Usage_with_.E5.86.8D.E8.AF.B4 "wikilink")
- [2.1
Structure](#Structure_2 "wikilink")
- [2.2
Examples](#Examples_2 "wikilink")
- [3 "and
then..." with
接着](#.22and_then....22_with_.E6.8E.A5.E7.9D.80 "wikilink")
- [4 Sources and
further reading](#Sources_and_further_reading "wikilink")
- [4.1
Books](#Books "wikilink")
先 ⋯⋯ ，再 ⋯⋯
### Examples
- *先* 洗 手 *再* 吃。*Xiān* xǐ shǒu *zài*
chī.Wash your hands first, and then
eat.
- 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.
- 请 你 *先* 买 票 *再* 进。Qǐng nǐ *xiān* mǎi
piào *zài* jìn.Please buy a ticket before
you enter.
- 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.
- 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.
Colloquial Usage with 再说
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may have learned that [再说 can mean "in
addition."](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22In_addition%22_with_%22zaishuo%22)
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 "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.
### Structure
Note that in the pattern below, the sentence normally ends with 再说.
先 + \[Verb Phrase\] + 再说
### Examples
- *先* 吃饭 *再 说* 。*Xiān* chīfàn *zài
shuō*.Let's eat first, then we'll
talk.
- *先* 休息 一下 *再说* 。*Xiān* xiūxi yīxià
*zàishuō*.Let's rest a little first, then
talk.
- 你 *先* 看 完*再说* 。Nǐ *xiān* kàn wán
*zàishuō*.Finish reading first, and then
we can talk.
- 我 *先* 问 一下 老板 *再说* 。Wǒ *xiān* wèn
yīxià lǎobǎn *zàishuō*.I'm going to ask
the boss first.
- 你们 *先* 讨论 一下 *再说* 。Nǐmen *xiān*
tǎolùn yīxià *zàishuō*.You guys discuss a
little first, then we'll talk.
"and then..." with 接着
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When describing a series of actions, steps, or consecutive events, your
Chinese will sound more natural if you can diversify your conjunctions.
[然后](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%84%B6%E5%90%8E)
(ránhòu) is most commonly used, a conjunction which means "[and
then](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/And_then)."
Alternatively, you can use 接着 (jīezhe), as a conjunction that means
"next," or "afterwards."
A longer example to help you understand how they can all work together:
- 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.
Sources and further reading
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
### Books
- [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1
(3rd ed)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed)) (pp.
258-9) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2xe9H5W)
- [Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part
2](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_2) (pp.
19-20) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2ftpILV)
- [卓越汉语－公司实战篇](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) (pp.
172) \[ →buy\]
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