ChineseGrammarWiki/Programmes/B1.old/Grammar-wiki-B1-133.txt

{{Grammar Box}} 

Both 再 (zài) and 又 (yòu) express the duplication of an action and can be roughly translated in English to "again."  However, 再 is used to express actions that have not yet occurred (the "future again") and 又 is used for actions that have already occurred (the "past again").  They're not interchangeable.

== 再 is used to express repetition of an action in the future ==

再 is used to express something that [[Again in the future with "zai"|has already happened and will happen again]].

=== Structure ===
<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 再 + Verb + Obj. 
</div>

=== Examples ===
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li class="o">我们 下次 <em>再</em> 来 这里 吧。<span class="trans">We will come here again next time.</span></li>
<li class="o">你 <em>再</em> 帮 我 打印 两 张，这些 不 够。<span class="trans">You will help me print two sheets, these aren't enough.</span></li>
<li class="o">请 <em>再</em> 说 一次。<span class="trans">Please say it one more time.</span></li>
<li class="x">请 <strong>又</strong> 说 一次。<span class="expl">Since it is asking about a future action, you can't use "又"</span></li>

</ul>
</div>

== 再 can be used to say "another" ==

Aside from expressing the repetition of an action, [[Again in the future with "zai"|再 can also be used to express the equivalent of the English word "another"]].

===Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 再 + Verb + Obj. 
</div>

Note that the "Object" mentioned above is usually also going to have an 一 and a [[measure word]] in front of it.  You'll see that in the examples below.

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li class="o">我 要 <em>再</em> 看 一部 电影。<span class="trans">I am going to watch another movie.</span></li>
<li class="x"> 我 得 <strong>又</strong> 写 一篇 作文。<span class="expl">Since it is about the future, you can't use "又"</span></li>
<li class="o"> 你 可以 <em>再</em> 做 一碗 面条 吗。<span class="trans">You can make another bowl of noodles.</span></li>
<li class="x"> 我 要 <strong>又</strong> 吃 一块 蛋糕。<span class="expl">Since it is about the future, you can't use "又"</span></li>
</ul>
</div>

== 再 can be used to say "and then" ==

[[Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"|再 can be used with 先 to express sequential order]]. (ex. Do this....and then this....) In some cases, 再 can appear by itself to simply mean "and then."  While this doesn't sound so easy to confuse with 又, it's actually quite common for intermediate learners to misunderstand this use of 再 as meaning "again," so it's definitely worth mentioning here.

=== Structure === 

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + (先) + Action 1 + 再 + Action 2
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li class="o">我们 <strong>先</strong> 做 作业 <em>再</em> 去 酒吧。<span class="trans">First we'll do our work, then we'll go to the bar.</span></li>
<li class="o">我 <strong>先</strong> 买 房子 <em>再</em> 结婚。<span class="trans">First I'll buy a house, then I'll get married.</span></li>
<li class="o">我们 买完 饮料 以后 <em>再</em> 看 电影。<span class="trans">After we buy a drink, then we'll go to a movie.</span></li>
<li class="o">我们 回家 <em>再</em> 讨论 好 吗？<span class="trans">We discuss it after we go home, OK?</span></li>
<li class="x">我 要 看 完 书 <em>又</em> 睡觉。<span class="expl">'"又"can not be used as the action"go to bed" haven't occured yet.</span></li>
<li class="x">你 <strong>先</strong> 吃饭 <em>又</em> 打 电话 給 父母。<span class="expl">"又" does not sequence events.</span></li> 
</ul>
</div>

== 又 is used to express repetition of an action that has already occurred in the past ==

又 is used in declarative sentences and describes the [[Again in the past with "you"|simple repetition of actions]]. This repeated action has already occurred once in the past.

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 又 + Verb + 了
</div>

=== Example ===

<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li class="o">你 怎么 <em>又</em> 给 我 打 电话，什么事？<span class="trans">You keep calling me, what's the matter?</span></li>
<li class="o">这 个 老 男人 <em>又</em> 来 了。<span class="trans">This old man came again.</span></li>
<li class="o">他 <em>又</em> 不 来 上课 了，老师 可能 罚 他。<span class="trans">He didn't come to class again. The teacher is probably going to punish him.</span></li>
<li class="o">你 为什么 <em>又</em> 看 这本书？ 你 已经 看过 了。<span class="trans">Why are you reading that book again？ You already read it.</span></li>
<li class="x">昨天 他 <strong>再</strong> 喝醉 了<span class="expl">"再" is not used for past events.</span></li>
<li class="x">昨天 我 <strong>再</strong> 看 电影 了<span class="expl">"再" is not used for past events.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>

== 又 adds emotional coloring to events recurring in the future ==

又 is sometimes used to express that something that has happened before is going to happen in the immediate future.  In this case, it usually appears with 要 (yào), 可以 (kěyǐ), 能 (néng), or 是 (shì).  This usage often expresses exasperation or impatience with something happening ''yet '''again''''', but sometimes it's more neutral, or even happy.

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 又 + 助动词 / 谓语动词 + Obj. 
</div>

=== Example ===

<div class="liju">

* 明天 <em>又</em> <strong>要</strong> 开会，真 烦 人 。<span class="trans">We're having ANOTHER meeting tomorrow. So annoying!</span>
* 你 <em>又</em> <strong>要</strong> 辞职 了 ？ 为什么 ？ <span class="trans">You're going to resign again? Why?</span>
* 夏天 快 到 了，<em>又</em> <strong>可以</strong> 吃 冰淇淋 了 ！ <span class="trans">It's almost summer, and we can eat ice cream again!</span>
* 明天 <em>又</em> <strong>是</strong> 星期一 ！ <span class="trans">Tomorrow is Monday again.</span>
* 如果 我 能 瘦 一些，我 就 <em>又</em> <strong>能</strong> 穿 我 最 喜欢 的 牛仔裤 啦 ！ <span class="trans">If I can slim down a bit, I can wear my favorite jeans again!</span>
</div>

== Both 再 and 又 have other uses as well ==

The comparisons above are the cases where 又 and 再 are most easily confused.  This wiki also has other uses of both, however:

* [[又|All uses of 又]]
* [[再|All uses of 再]]

== See Also ==

* [[Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"]]
* [[Again in the future with "zai"]]
* [[Again in the past with "you"]]

== Sources and  further reading ==

=== Books ===
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (pp. 157) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy]
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (pp. 202) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy] 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (pp. 157) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy]
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2]] (pp. 288) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0887276881 →buy]
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (pp. 202) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy] 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 258-9) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy] 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2]] (pp. 19-20) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0887276881 →buy]

===Websites===
* Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0212.html Using 再 and 又]

[[Category:grammar comparison]]
{{Basic Grammar|再|B1|再 vs 又|我不能<em>再</em>喝了，你走后我<em>又</em>喝了两瓶 。|grammar point|ASGTBHBG}}
{{Rel char|又}}
{{Translation|again}}
{{Similar|Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"}}
{{Similar|Again in the future with "zai"}}
{{Similar|Again in the past with "you"}}
{{Used for|Describing actions}}
{{Used for|Sequencing events in time}}
{{Comparison|Adverbs}}