HSK3 Grammar: Repeated Actions — 又 vs 再 (yòu vs zài)
Use this to: Use this to say whether something happened again or will happen again.
1. Grammar Introduction
又 (yòu) and 再 (zài) both express that an action happens again, but they refer to different time frames.
又 — again (already happened again): the repeated action has already occurred. Used for past or present repeated events.
他又迟到了。(Tā yòu chídào le.) — He was late again. (it happened again)
再 — again (not yet, will happen again): the repeated action has not yet occurred. Used for future intentions, requests, or instructions.
请再说一遍。(Qǐng zài shuō yī biàn.) — Please say it again. (future request)
Key test: Has the action already happened again? → 又. Is it still to come? → 再.
又 — repeated action already happened
又 + VP (+ 了): the action has occurred again
又 is used when something has already happened again — often with a sense of surprise, annoyance, or pattern. It frequently appears with 了 at the end.
Subject+又+VP (+ 了)
他又迟到了。Tā yòu chídào le.He was late again. (happened again)
你又忘了！Nǐ yòu wàng le!You forgot again!
她昨天又来了。Tā zuótiān yòu lái le.She came again yesterday.
又 can also connect two simultaneous qualities: 又高又帅 (tall and handsome). That use is covered in a separate lesson.
再 — repeated action not yet happened
再 + VP: the action will happen again (future, request, instruction)
再 is used when the repeated action has not happened yet — a future plan, a request, or an instruction to do something again.
Subject+再+VP
请再说一遍。Qǐng zài shuō yī biàn.Please say it again. (future request)
我明天再来。Wǒ míngtiān zài lái.I'll come again tomorrow.
这本书太好了，我想再看一遍。Zhè běn shū tài hǎo le, wǒ xiǎng zài kàn yī biàn.This book is so good — I want to read it again.
✗ 请又说一遍。— 又 cannot be used for a future request.
又 vs 再 — side-by-side comparison
Same English word 'again', two different Chinese words
Feature
又 (yòu)
再 (zài)
When?
Already happened again (past/present)
Not yet happened again (future)
Tone
Often surprise, annoyance, or pattern
Neutral — request, plan, intention
With 了?
✓ Common: 又迟到了
✗ Rare: 再 + 了 is unusual
Example
他又来了。 He came again. (already)
他明天再来。 He'll come again tomorrow.
Request
✗ 请又说一遍。(wrong)
✓ 请再说一遍。(correct)
2. Example Sentences
又 — late again (past, annoyance)
他又迟到了。
Tā yòu chídào le.
他he又again (already)迟到了was late。
He was late again.
💡 又 + 了: the lateness happened again. 了 confirms the event is completed.
又 — rained again
今天又下雨了。
Jīntiān yòu xià yǔ le.
今天today又again下雨了rained。
It rained again today.
又 — forgot again
你又忘了！
Nǐ yòu wàng le!
你you又again忘了forgot！
You forgot again!
又 — came again yesterday
她昨天又来了。
Tā zuótiān yòu lái le.
她she昨天yesterday又again来了came。
She came again yesterday.
再 — please say it again (request)
请再说一遍。
Qǐng zài shuō yī biàn.
请please再again (future)说一遍say once more。
Please say it again.
💡 再 for requests — the action hasn't happened yet. ✗ 请又说一遍 is wrong.
