What is the difference between 再 and 又?
Both mean "again". 再 is for a repetition that has not happened yet: a plan, a request, a suggestion (请再说一遍, 明天再来). 又 is for a repetition that has already happened (他昨天又迟到了), and for things that regularly recur, even in the future (明天又是星期一). 再 also means "then, and only then" (吃完饭再走).
| 再 | not yet happened: 再来一杯, 我们下次再去; then: 做完作业再玩 |
|---|---|
| 又 | already happened: 他又来了; regular recurrence: 又到周末了 |
再 zài
From the readings on this site
- 明天我想再看一个电影。Tomorrow I want to watch another movie.HSK 1 · 看电影
- 饭馆的人说：“欢迎你们再来！”The restaurant staff says: "Welcome back again!"HSK 1 · 在饭馆
- 我说：“爷爷，请再说一次。”I say: "Grandpa, please say it again."HSK 2 · 请说慢一点
又 yòu
From the readings on this site
- 我又吃了很多，菜都好吃极了。I ate a lot more — everything was so delicious.HSK 2 · 真好吃
- 我又吃了面条，觉得有点儿辣。I then ate the noodles, and thought they were a little spicy.HSK 2 · 好吃吗
- 我又看见杯子，也问她：“这个呢？”I see a cup this time, and ask her too: "What about this one?"HSK 2 · 怎么说
Practice: fill in the blank
Each sentence is from a reading on this site. Which word goes in the gap?
- 明天我想___看一个电影。再 / 又
Answer
再 — Tomorrow I want to watch another movie.
- 饭馆的人说：“欢迎你们___来！”再 / 又
Answer
再 — The restaurant staff says: "Welcome back again!"
- 我说：“爷爷，请___说一次。”再 / 又
Answer
再 — I say: "Grandpa, please say it again."
- 我___吃了面条，觉得有点儿辣。再 / 又
Answer
又 — I then ate the noodles, and thought they were a little spicy.
- 我___吃了很多，菜都好吃极了。再 / 又
Answer
又 — I ate a lot more — everything was so delicious.
- 朋友___说了一次，可是我还是没听清楚。再 / 又
Answer
又 — My friend says it again, but I still don't hear it clearly.