再

zài

一 + 冉

HSK 2.0Level 2

HSK 3.0Level 1

Definitions

zài (adverb) again; once more

zài (adverb) then; after that

zài (adverb) no matter how (followed by adjective; verb)

Etymology

Depicts catching two (二) fish at once, conveying the meaning "again". The fish component is similar to the bottom half of 冓.

About

再 originally depicted catching two fish at once, the lower part resembles the bottom half of 冓, representing a fish, conveying the sense of "again". In modern usage, it functions exclusively as an adverb meaning "once more", "again", or "furthermore", and indicates that an action will happen in the future or a state will continue. This forward-looking temporal orientation sets it apart from other "again" words, which typically refer to completed repetition.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Bronze Mid Warring States (~300 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们明天再见。

Wǒmen míngtiān zàijiàn.

We'll see each other again tomorrow.

请你再说一遍。

Qǐng nǐ zài shuō yī biàn.

Please say it again.

我们下次再讨论。

Wǒmen xià cì zài tǎolùn.

We'll discuss it next time.

等雨停了再走。

Děng yǔ tíngle zài zǒu.

Let's leave after the rain stops.

我打算再去一次。

Wǒ dǎsuàn zài qù yī cì.

I plan to go there one more time.

做完作业再看电视。

Zuò wán zuòyè zài kàn diànshì.

Finish your homework before watching TV.

再也找不到更好的了。

Zài yě zhǎo bù dào gèng hǎo de le.

You can't find a better one anymore.

不管多难，我再试一次。

Bùguǎn duō nán, wǒ zài shì yī cì.

No matter how difficult it is, I'll try one more time.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 一

Component: 冉

再