HSK 3 grammar · new HSK syllabus
又 or 再: again
又 = again, already happened (他又迟到了); 再 = again, in the future (明天再来).
Structure
- 又 + verb + 了 (already happened again)
- 再 + verb (will happen again)
How it works
又 is used when the repeat has already happened: 他昨天又迟到了.
再 is used for a repeat that hasn’t happened yet, including requests: 请再说一遍, 我明天再来.
又 can also describe something that will certainly repeat, such as dates: 明天又是星期一了.
Examples
-
他今天又迟到了。
Tā jīntiān yòu chídào le.
He was late again today.
-
请你再说一遍。
Qǐng nǐ zài shuō yí biàn.
Please say it again.
-
我明天再来。
Wǒ míngtiān zài lái.
I’ll come again tomorrow.
-
你怎么又生病了？
Nǐ zěnme yòu shēngbìng le?
How come you’re ill again?
-
这个菜很好吃，我想再吃一点儿。
Zhège cài hěn hǎochī, wǒ xiǎng zài chī yìdiǎnr.
This dish is delicious. I’d like a bit more.
Words in these examples (23)
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 今天 | jīntiān | today | HSK 1 |
| 又 | yòu | again; and also | HSK 3 |
| 迟到 | chídào | to be late | HSK 3 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 请 | qǐng | please; to invite; to treat (pay for) | HSK 1 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 再 | zài | again | HSK 1 |
| 说 | shuō | to say; to speak | HSK 1 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 遍 | biàn | (measure word for actions, from start to finish), as in 再说一遍 "say it once more" | HSK 3 |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 明天 | míngtiān | tomorrow | HSK 1 |
| 来 | lái | to come | HSK 1 |
| 怎么 | zěnme | how; why | HSK 1 |
| 生病 | shēngbìng | to get sick | HSK 1 |
| 这个 | zhège | this one | HSK 1 |
| 菜 | cài | dish (of food); vegetable | HSK 1 |
| 很 | hěn | very | HSK 1 |
| 好吃 | hǎochī | tasty; delicious | HSK 1 |
| 想 | xiǎng | to want to; to think; to miss | HSK 1 |
| 吃 | chī | to eat | HSK 1 |
| 一点儿 | yìdiǎnr | a little; a bit | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗他昨天再来了。
✓他昨天又来了。
A repeat that already happened: 又.
-
✗请又说一遍。
✓请再说一遍。
A request for the future: 再.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 他上个星期来了，今天 来了。
2. 我没听清楚，你 说一遍吧。
3. 下次 见！