又 (yòu) vs 再 (zài): Again in Chinese
又/再
又 and 再 both mean "again", split by time. 又 is for a repeat that already happened (他昨天又迟到了 — he was late again). 再 is for an intended repeat still to come (明天再来 — come again tomorrow). 又 can also appear with a future time when the speaker predicts another recurrence, as in 明天又要下雨.
Published July 9, 2026
Reviewed July 9, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
又 repeated past, 再 repeat in future
Read the structure
又 and 再 both mean "again", split by time. 又 is for a repeat that already happened (他昨天又迟到了 — he was late again). 再 is for an intended repeat still to come (明天再来 — come again tomorrow). 又 can also appear with a future time when the speaker predicts another recurrence, as in 明天又要下雨. Keep the model 又 repeated past, 再 repeat in future visible while you compare each sentence.
他又迟到了。
He was late again.
Choose the right context
又 for a repeat that already happened: 他又忘了。 再 for a repeat still to come: 请再说一遍。 再 after 不 / 别 for "not again": 别再迟到了。
请再说一遍。
Please say it again.
Respect the boundary
再 for a repeat that already happened — use 又: 他昨天又来了, not 昨天再来了。 Using 又 for an instruction or request to repeat an action — requests normally use 再: 请再说一遍。Future predictions can still use 又: 明天又要下雨。 Putting them after the verb — both are adverbs and sit before it: 又迟到, 再说。
他昨天再迟到了。
(He was late again yesterday.)
Repair the pattern
再 used for a repeat that already happened: 再 is for a future repeat; a repeat that already happened takes 又. The 昨天 and 了 mark it as done, so 又 is required. 再 placed after the repeated verb: 再 is an adverb and normally comes before the verb it modifies. In a request to repeat the action, say 请再说一遍。
他昨天又迟到了。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
他又迟到了。
He was late again.
他
又 repeated past, 再 repeat in future
This part occupies the 又 repeated past, 再 repeat in future position in the model pattern.
又
又 repeated past, 再 repeat in future
This part occupies the 又 repeated past, 再 repeat in future position in the model pattern.
迟到
又 repeated past, 再 repeat in future
This part occupies the 又 repeated past, 再 repeat in future position in the model pattern.
了
又 repeated past, 再 repeat in future
This part occupies the 又 repeated past, 再 repeat in future position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
他又迟到了。
He was late again.
请再说一遍。
Please say it again.
我昨天又见到他了。
I saw him again yesterday.
明天再聊。
Let's talk again tomorrow.
别再迟到了。
Don't be late again.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- 又 for a repeat that already happened: 他又忘了。
- 再 for a repeat still to come: 请再说一遍。
- 再 after 不 / 别 for "not again": 别再迟到了。
Do not use it when
- 再 for a repeat that already happened — use 又: 他昨天又来了, not 昨天再来了。
- Using 又 for an instruction or request to repeat an action — requests normally use 再: 请再说一遍。Future predictions can still use 又: 明天又要下雨。
- Putting them after the verb — both are adverbs and sit before it: 又迟到, 再说。
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
他昨天再迟到了。
他昨天又迟到了。
再 used for a repeat that already happened
再 is for a future repeat; a repeat that already happened takes 又. The 昨天 and 了 mark it as done, so 又 is required.
请说再一遍。
请再说一遍。
再 placed after the repeated verb
再 is an adverb and normally comes before the verb it modifies. In a request to repeat the action, say 请再说一遍。
他昨天再迟到了。
A past repeat takes 又: 他昨天又迟到了。
请说再一遍。
再 goes before the repeated verb: 请再说一遍。
请又说一遍。
About to repeat → 再: 请再说一遍。
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 又/再.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 又/再. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
又 (yòu) vs 再 (zài): Again Questions
What is the difference between 又 and 再?
As a beginner default, 又 describes a recurrence viewed as having happened (他又来了), while 再 introduces an intended repeat still to come (你再来). A predicted future recurrence can still use 又, as in 明天又要下雨.
Can 又 be used with a future time?
Yes, when predicting that something will recur: 明天又要下雨 (it is going to rain again tomorrow). For a request or intended repeat, use 再: 明天再来。
How do I say "don't do it again"?
别再 + verb: 别再迟到了 (don't be late again), 别再说了 (don't say it again). 再 fits because you're talking about a future repeat.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Construction index and function chapters relevant to 又/再
Supports the learner-facing account of where 又/再 appears and what communicative job it performs.
Official sourceChinese: A Comprehensive Grammar, 2nd ed.
Yip and Rimmington · Routledge · 2016
Locator: Relevant sentence and clause chapters for 又/再
Cross-checks the 又 repeated past, 再 repeat in future pattern, clause relationship, and limits represented by the reviewed examples.
Official sourceChinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 2 grammar inventory
Supports directory placement at HSK 2; it does not independently prove usage rules.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
有The 有 (yǒu) Sentence
Distinguish 有 statements from location sentences formed with 在.
Continue learning
放着Existential Sentences
Extend the 有 contrast into location-first existential descriptions.
Easy to confuse
在在 for Location and the Setting of an Action
Review 在 as a location preposition before interpreting measured 有.
Continue learning
有字句2：表示评价、达到有 for Height, Age, and Attained Measure
Practice 有 with attained height and age quantities rather than simple possession.
RECOMMENDED NEXT
Continue learning
Extend the 有 contrast into location-first existential descriptions.