“Repeatedly” in Chinese

Grammar Point:
一再 yízài and 再三 zàisān are both Chinese expressions that convey the idea of “repeatedly” or “again and again.” While they share a similar meaning, there are nuanced differences in how they are used.

Structure

一再 yízài

In Chinese, the word 一再 yízà emphasizes the idea of doing something repeatedly or continuously, often to stress persistence or insistence. It’s frequently used in formal or written contexts to express a repeated action or request.

我wǒ一再yízài嘗試chángshì解釋jiěshì這個zhège問題wèntí， 但dàn還是háishì沒有méiyǒu人rén理解lǐjiě我wǒ一再yízài尝试chángshì解释jiěshì这个zhège问题wèntí， 但dàn还是háishì没有méiyǒu人rén理解lǐjiě
I have repeatedly tried to explain this issue, but no one understands.

我wǒ一再yízài提醒tíxǐng自己zìjǐ每天měitiān都dōu要yào喝hē足夠zúgòu的de水shuǐ我wǒ一再yízài提醒tíxǐng自己zìjǐ每天měitiān都dōu要yào喝hē足够zúgòu的de水shuǐ
I remind myself again and again to drink enough water every day.

每年měinián健檢jiànjiǎn， 醫生yìshēng都dōu一再yízài告訴gàosù我wǒ要yào注意zhùyì健康jiànkāng每年měinián健检jiànjiǎn， 医生yìshēng都dōu一再yízài告诉gàosùu我wǒ要yào注意zhùyì健康jiànkāng
During the annual health checkup, the doctor repeatedly advises me to pay attention to my health.

他tā一再yízài向xiàng我wǒ借錢jièqián， 我wǒ感到gǎndào很hěn困擾kùnrǎo他tā一再yízài向xiàng我wǒ借钱jièqián， 我wǒ感到gǎndào很hěn困扰kùnrǎo
He keeps borrowing money from me, and it’s becoming a concern.

我wǒ一再yízài拒絕jùjué他的tāde告白gàobái， 他tā還是háishì不bú放棄fàngqì我wǒ一再yízài拒绝jùjué他的tāde告白gàobái， 他tā还是háishì不bú放弃fàngqì
I repeatedly reject him, but he still doesn’t give up.

再三 zàisān

In Chinese, 再三 zàisān also means “repeatedly” or “again and again,” but it’s commonly used in a more casual or spoken context. This expression might imply a sense of advising or cautioning against something after giving repeated reminders.

媽媽māma再三zàisān提醒tíxǐng我wǒ別bié忘wàng了le帶dài雨傘yǔsǎn， 因為yīnwèi今天jīntiān會huì下雨xiàyǔ妈妈māma再三zàisān提醒tíxǐng我wǒ别bié忘wàng了le带dài雨伞yǔsǎn， 因为yīnwèi今天jīntiān会huì下雨xiàyǔ
Mom repeatedly reminds me not to forget to bring an umbrella because it will rain today.

出國chūguó旅行lǚxíng前qián， 奶奶nǎinai再三zàisān交代jiāodài我wǒ要yào小心xiǎoxīn照顧zhàogù自己zìjǐ出国chūguó旅行lǚxíng前qián， 奶奶nǎinai再三zàisān交代jiāodài我wǒ要yào小心xiǎoxīn照顾zhàogù自己zìjǐ
Before heading abroad, my grandma kept reminding me to take good care of myself.

我wǒ再三zàisān跟gēn他tā強調qiángdiào這是zhèshì最後zuìhòu一次yícì機會jīhuì了le我wǒ再三zàisān跟gēn他tā强调qiángdiào这是zhèshì最后zuìhòu一次yícì机会jīhuì了le
I emphasize to him again and again that this is the last chance.

他tā再三zàisān警告jǐnggào我wǒ在zài台灣Táiwān不要búyào亂luàn丟diū垃圾lèsè他tā再三zàisān警告jǐnggào我wǒ在zài台湾Táiwān不要búyào乱luàn丢diū垃圾lājī
He keeps reminding me not to litter in Taiwan.

老師lǎoshī再三zàisān叮嚀dīngníng學生xuéshēng在zài考試kǎoshì前qián要yào好好hǎohāo複習fùxí老师lǎoshī再三zàisān叮咛dīngníng学生xuésheng在zài考试kǎoshì前qián要yào好好hǎohāo复习fùxi
The teacher keeps reminding students to study thoroughly before the exam.

Practice

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✔️ I have repeatedly told you that Chinese is simple; why don’t you believe it?

我wǒ一再yízài告訴gàosù你nǐ中文zhōngwén很hěn簡單jiǎndān， 你nǐ為什麼wèishénme不bù相信xiāngxìn我wǒ一再yízài告诉gàosu你nǐ中文zhōngwén很hěn简单jiǎndān， 你nǐ为什么wèishénme不bù相信xiāngxìn

✔️ I’ve also reminded you multiple times to converse with yourself in Chinese every day.

我wǒ也yě再三zàisān提醒tíxǐng你nǐ要yào每天měitiān跟gēn自己zìjǐ用yòng中文zhōngwén對話duìhuà我wǒ也yě再三zàisān提醒tíxǐng你nǐ要yào每天měitiān跟gēn自己zìjǐ用yòng中文zhōngwén对话duìhuà

✔️ Finally, I must emphasize again and again that creating this website has truly taken up too much of my time.

最後zuìhòu我wǒ必須bìxū再三zàisān強調qiángdiào做zuò這個zhège網站wǎngzhàn真的zhēnde花huā我wǒ太tài多duō時間shíjiān了le最后zuìhòu我wǒ必须bìxū再三zàisān强调qiángdiào做zuò这个zhège网站wǎngzhàn真的zhēnde花huā我wǒ太tài多duō时间shíjiān了le😭