Synonyms of “Again” in Chinese

The three words 再 zài, 又 yòu, and 還还 hái indicate the repetition of the same action and can be translated to “again” in English. However, 又 yòu is used when the repeated action has happened again and there is often a 了le at the end of the sentence. In contrast, 再 zài is used when the repeated action has not happened yet. 還还 hái also indicates a future repetition of an action but suggests a prearranged or premeditated repetition.

Structure

S + 再 + V

This is the only “again” that can be used in an imperative sentence. When there is an optative verb, always put 再 zài after it. Remember, it is used to indicate something that has happened already and may happen again in the future.

妳nǎi說shuō錯cuò了le， 請qǐng你nǐ再zài說shuō一次yícì妳nǎi说shuō错cuò了le， 请qǐng你nǐ再zài说shuō一次yícì
You’re wrong. Please say it again.
(An imperative sentence)

她tā今天jīntiān不bú在家zàijiā， 你nǐ明天míngtiān再zài來lái吧ba她tā今天jīntiān不bú在家zàijiā， 你nǐ明天míngtiān再zài来lái吧ba
She is not at home today, come back again tomorrow.

我wǒ絕對juéduì不會búhuì再zài去qù那nà家jiā餐廳cāntīng我wǒ绝对juéduì不会búhuì再zài去qù那nà家jiā餐厅cāntīng
I will never go back to that restaurant again.

S + 又 + V

Remember, 又 yòu is used to indicate something that has happened before and is happening again now or in the past. It is often used with a 了 le at the end of the sentence. However, 又 yòu can also be used in a hypothetical action. If there is an optative verb (such as 想 xiǎng, 要 yào, 希望 xīwàng), always put 又 yòu before it.

妳nǐ上次shàngcì說shuō錯cuò， 這次zhècì又yòu說shuō錯cuò了le妳nǐ上次shàngcì说shuō错cuò， 这次zhècì又yòu说shuō错cuò了le
You were wrong last time, and you’re wrong again this time.

妳nǐ上次shàngcì說shuō錯cuò， 這次zhècì又yòu說shuō錯cuò了le妳nǐ上次shàngcì说shuō错cuò， 这次zhècì又yòu说shuō错cuò了le
I told you she wasn’t home today, so why did you come again?

如果rúguǒ我wǒ又yòu想xiǎng去qù那家nàjiā餐廳cāntīng， 那nà我wǒ一定yídìng是shì醉zuì了le如果rúguǒ我wǒ又yòu想xiǎng去qù那家nàjiā餐厅cāntīng， 那nà我wǒ一定yídìng是shì醉zuì了le
If I want to go to that restaurant again, then I must be drunk.
(hypothesis action)

S + 還/还 + 要, 會/会, or 想 + V

還还 hái suggests a prearranged or pre-planned repetition, meaning it depends on your willingness. Unlike 再 zài and 又 yòu, it cannot directly connect with a verb. However, it can be used with 再 zài for emphasis.

這zhè病bìng需要xūyào時間shíjiān， 我wǒ下星期xiàxīngqí還huán要yào去qù看醫生kànyīshēng这zhè病bìng需要xūyào时间shíjiān， 我wǒ下星期xiàxīngqī还huán要yào去qù看医生kànyìshēng
This sickness takes time, I have to go to the doctor next week again.

那nà本běn書shū我wǒ還沒háiméi看kàn完wán， 所以suǒyǐ明天míngtiān我wǒ還huán會huì去qù圖書館túshūguǎn那nà本běn书shū我wǒ还没háiméi看kàn完wán， 所以suǒyǐ明天míngtiān我wǒ还huán会huì去qù图书馆túshūguǎn
I haven’t finished the book yet, so I’ll go back to the library tomorrow again.

我wǒ還hái想xiǎng再zài去qù一次yícì歐洲ōuzhōu我wǒ还hái想xiǎng再zài去qù一次yícì欧洲ōuzhōu
I would like to go to Europe again.

How about 重 chóng？

The function of 重 chóng is not really like a word or grammar, is more like a word root “re-” in English. It is always combined with a verb.

聽說tīngshuō老闆lǎobǎn要yào你nǐ把bǎ報告bàogào重做chóngzuò听说tīngshuō老板lǎobǎn要yào你nǐ把bǎ报告bàogào重做chóngzuò
I heard that your boss wants you to redo the report.

電腦diànnǎo重chóng開機kāijī後hòu應該yīnggāi會huì比較bǐjiào快kuài电脑diànnǎo重chóng开机kāijī后hòu应该yìnggāi会huì比较bǐjiào快kuài
The computer should be faster after rebooting.

我wǒ再zài重chóng說shuō一次yícì， 這個zhège客戶kèhù很hěn重要zhòngyào我wǒ再zài重chóng说shuō一次yícì， 这个zhège客户kèhù很hěn重要zhòngyào
Let me re-say it again, this customer is very important.

• Connecting Adjective with 又：又 you… 又 you… (HSK 2)

• Express the order in Chinese with 先 xiān…再 zài… (HSK 3)

Practice

• 再 zài, 又 yòu, 重 chóng, and 還还 hái