When both actions are done by the same person, you only need to say the subject once, at the start. Both 先 xiān and 再 zài go right before their verbs.
先洗手，再吃飯吃饭
Wash your hands first, then eat.
先脫鞋脱鞋，再進來进来
Take off your shoes first, then come in.
客人先付錢付钱，再吃飯吃饭
Customers pay first, then eat.
你應該应该先學学一點一点中文，再來来台灣台湾旅遊旅游
You should learn a little Chinese first, and then come travel in Taiwan.
我晚上先回家吃飯吃饭，再去電影院电影院見见你
Tonight I’ll go home and eat first, then meet you at the movie theater.
他們他们是先上車上车再補票补票的
They got on first and bought the tickets afterward.
Or… they had a shotgun wedding! (See below.)
Get on first, pay laterThere’s a set phrase, 先上車後補票 xiān shàngchē hòu bǔpiào先上车后补票 xiān shàngchē hòu bǔpiào (“get on the bus first, buy the ticket later”), that people use jokingly for a couple who have a baby on the way before getting married, and then get married afterward.
二 Two Different People
Subject A + 先 + Verb，Subject B + 再 + Verb
If the two actions are done by different people, say the second subject too. It goes before 再 zài, never after it.
老師老师先說说一次，學生学生再說说一次
The teacher says it once first, then the students say it.
爸爸先給给哥哥十塊块錢钱，哥哥再給给弟弟一塊块錢钱
Dad gives the older brother ten dollars first, then the older brother gives the younger brother one dollar.
Every family has a middleman. 😄
三 More Ways to Put Things in Order
For more than two steps, mix in these words to keep everything in order.
Tomorrow morning we’ll first go buy a present, then go to Grandma’s to eat together. After that we’ll take Grandma for a walk in the park, then go grocery shopping at the supermarket, and finally head home.
台灣台湾有三個个有名的食物。第一是珍珠奶茶。第二是牛肉麵牛肉面。第三是臭豆腐。
Taiwan has three famous foods. The first is bubble tea. The second is beef noodle soup. The third is stinky tofu.
四 Common Mistakes
❌ 先你洗澡，再睡覺睡觉
✅ 你先洗澡，再睡覺睡觉
先 xiān is an adverb, so it goes after the subject, right before the verb.
❌ 老師老师先唸念，再學生学生唸念
✅ 老師老师先唸念，學生学生再唸念
When the second subject is different, it goes before 再 zài.
❌ 先寫写功課作业，在玩遊戲游戏
✅ 先寫写功課作业，再玩遊戲游戏
再 zài and 在 zài sound exactly the same, but only 再 zài means “then.” Even native speakers mix these up when typing!
五 Practice
Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like, or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck. Careful: some tiles are traps and are not needed!
Question 1 of 10
“I’ll eat first, you eat later.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我先吃，你再吃
Two different people, so 你 nǐ goes before 再 zài.
“My little sister wants to watch TV before she does her homework.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
妹妹想先看電視电视再寫写功課作业
English says “before,” but Chinese puts the actions in the order they happen: TV first, then homework.
“Say “Chinese is easy” ten times first, then I’ll teach you Chinese.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
你先說说十次中文很簡單简单，我再教你中文
Different people, so 我 wǒ comes before 再 zài. (Worth a try! 😄)
“Brush your teeth first, then go to bed.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
先刷牙，再睡覺睡觉
The 在 zài tile is a trap. It sounds the same as 再 zài but doesn’t mean “then.”
“Let’s buy the tickets first, then go get coffee.”
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❌ Try Again
我們我们先買买票，再去喝咖啡
Same people doing both, so the subject only appears once.
“You go in first. I’ll go in after.”
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❌ Try Again
你先進去进去，我再進去进去
The second subject 我 wǒ comes before 再 zài.
“Let’s think it over first, then decide.”
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❌ Try Again
我們我们先想一想想一想，再決定决定
想一想 xiǎng yì xiǎng想一想 xiǎng yi xiǎng = “think it over for a bit.”
“Add the water first, then add the salt.”
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❌ Try Again
先加水，再加鹽盐
Instructions and recipes use 先 xiān…再 zài… all the time.
“We’ll go to the museum first, and finally the night market.”
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❌ Try Again
我們我们先去博物館博物馆，最後最后去夜市
最後 zuìhòu最后 zuìhòu works like 再 zài here, but it marks the last step.
“First I take a shower, and then I have dinner.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我先洗澡，然後然后吃晚飯晚饭
然後 ránhòu然后 ránhòu (“and then”) can take the place of 再 zài.
