eric
/
ChineseGrammarWiki


			
				
					
						
						
							123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112
							
<p>Both 再 (zài) and 又 (yòu) express the duplication of an action and can be roughly translated in English to &quot;again.&quot; However, 再 is used to express actions that have not yet occurred (the &quot;future again&quot;) and 又 is used for actions that have already occurred (the &quot;past again&quot;). They're not interchangeable.</p>
<h2 id="再-is-used-to-express-repetition-of-an-action-in-the-future">再 is used to express repetition of an action in the future</h2>
<p>再 is used to express something that <a href="Again_in_the_future_with_&quot;zai&quot;" title="wikilink">has already happened and will happen again</a>.</p>
<h3 id="structure">Structure</h3>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>Subj. + 再 + Verb + Obj.</p>
</div>
<h3 id="examples">Examples</h3>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>我们 下次 <em>再</em> 来 这里 吧。<span class="trans">We will come here again next time.</span></li>
<li>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>请 <em>再</em> 说 一次。<span class="trans">Please say it one more time.</span></li>
<li>请 <strong>又</strong> 说 一次。<span class="expl">Since it is asking about a future action, you can't use &quot;又&quot;</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="再-can-be-used-to-say-another">再 can be used to say &quot;another&quot;</h2>
<p>Aside from expressing the repetition of an action, <a href="Again_in_the_future_with_&quot;zai&quot;" title="wikilink">再 can also be used to express the equivalent of the English word &quot;another&quot;</a>.</p>
<h3 id="structure-1">Structure</h3>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>Subj. + 再 + Verb + Obj.</p>
</div>
<p>Note that the &quot;Object&quot; mentioned above is usually also going to have an 一 and a <a href="measure_word" title="wikilink">measure word</a> in front of it. You'll see that in the examples below.</p>
<h3 id="examples-1">Examples</h3>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>我 要 <em>再</em> 看 一部 电影。<span class="trans">I am going to watch another movie.</span></li>
<li>我 得 <strong>又</strong> 写 一篇 作文。<span class="expl">Since it is about the future, you can't use &quot;又&quot;</span></li>
<li>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>我 要 <strong>又</strong> 吃 一块 蛋糕。<span class="expl">Since it is about the future, you can't use &quot;又&quot;</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="再-can-be-used-to-say-and-then">再 can be used to say &quot;and then&quot;</h2>
<p><a href="Sequencing_with_&quot;xian&quot;_and_&quot;zai&quot;" title="wikilink">再 can be used with 先 to express sequential order</a>. (ex. Do this....and then this....) In some cases, 再 can appear by itself to simply mean &quot;and then.&quot; 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 &quot;again,&quot; so it's definitely worth mentioning here.</p>
<h3 id="structure-2">Structure</h3>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>Subj. + (先) + Action 1 + 再 + Action 2</p>
</div>
<h3 id="examples-2">Examples</h3>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>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>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>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>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>我 要 看 完 书 <em>又</em> 睡觉。<span class="expl">'&quot;又&quot;can not be used as the action&quot;go to bed&quot; haven't occured yet.</span></li>
<li>你 <strong>先</strong> 吃饭 <em>又</em> 打 电话 給 父母。<span class="expl">&quot;又&quot; does not sequence events.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="又-is-used-to-express-repetition-of-an-action-that-has-already-occurred-in-the-past">又 is used to express repetition of an action that has already occurred in the past</h2>
<p>又 is used in declarative sentences and describes the <a href="Again_in_the_past_with_&quot;you&quot;" title="wikilink">simple repetition of actions</a>. This repeated action has already occurred once in the past.</p>
<h3 id="structure-3">Structure</h3>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>Subj. + 又 + Verb + 了</p>
</div>
<h3 id="example">Example</h3>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>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>这 个 老 男人 <em>又</em> 来 了。<span class="trans">This old man came again.</span></li>
<li>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>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>昨天 他 <strong>再</strong> 喝醉 了<span class="expl">&quot;再&quot; is not used for past events.</span></li>
<li>昨天 我 <strong>再</strong> 看 电影 了<span class="expl">&quot;再&quot; is not used for past events.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="又-adds-emotional-coloring-to-events-recurring-in-the-future">又 adds emotional coloring to events recurring in the future</h2>
<p>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 <em>yet <strong>again</strong></em>, but sometimes it's more neutral, or even happy.</p>
<h3 id="structure-4">Structure</h3>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>Subj. + 又 + 助动词 / 谓语动词 + Obj.</p>
</div>
<h3 id="example-1">Example</h3>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>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></li>
<li>你 <em>又</em> <strong>要</strong> 辞职 了 ？ 为什么 ？ <span class="trans">You're going to resign again? Why?</span></li>
<li>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></li>
<li>明天 <em>又</em> <strong>是</strong> 星期一 ！ <span class="trans">Tomorrow is Monday again.</span></li>
<li>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></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="both-再-and-又-have-other-uses-as-well">Both 再 and 又 have other uses as well</h2>
<p>The comparisons above are the cases where 又 and 再 are most easily confused. This wiki also has other uses of both, however:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="又" title="wikilink">All uses of 又</a></li>
<li><a href="再" title="wikilink">All uses of 再</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="see-also">See Also</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="Sequencing_with_&quot;xian&quot;_and_&quot;zai&quot;" title="wikilink">Sequencing with &quot;xian&quot; and &quot;zai&quot;</a></li>
<li><a href="Again_in_the_future_with_&quot;zai&quot;" title="wikilink">Again in the future with &quot;zai&quot;</a></li>
<li><a href="Again_in_the_past_with_&quot;you&quot;" title="wikilink">Again in the past with &quot;you&quot;</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2>
<h3 id="books">Books</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_1" title="wikilink">Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1</a> (pp. 157) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0887276792">→buy</a></li>
<li><a href="New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_3_(新实用汉语课本3)" title="wikilink">New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)</a> (pp. 202) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=756191251X">→buy</a></li>
<li><a href="Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_1" title="wikilink">Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1</a> (pp. 157) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0887276792">→buy</a></li>
<li><a href="Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_2" title="wikilink">Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2</a> (pp. 288) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0887276881">→buy</a></li>
<li><a href="New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_3_(新实用汉语课本3)" title="wikilink">New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)</a> (pp. 202) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=756191251X">→buy</a></li>
<li><a href="Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed)" title="wikilink">Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)</a> (pp. 258-9) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0887276385">→buy</a></li>
<li><a href="Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_2" title="wikilink">Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2</a> (pp. 19-20) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0887276881">→buy</a></li>
</ul>
<h3 id="websites">Websites</h3>
<ul>
<li>Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: <a href="http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0212.html">Using 再 and 又</a></li>
</ul>
<p>        </p>
<p><a href="Category:grammar_comparison" title="wikilink">Category:grammar comparison</a></p>