Chinese Lesson Plan for Teaching 'Again' in Chinese

Quick Take

The use of adverbs 再【zài=again (in the future) 】and 又【yòu=again (repeated in the past)】often confuse beginners learning Chinese. We explain these concepts with a step-by-step Chinese lesson plan.

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The Different Meaning of the Adverb ‘Again’

1. Explain the Usage of the Adverb 再【zài】(again - future).

2. Explain the Usage of the Adverb 又【yòu】(again in the past).

3. Explain the Differences of 再【zài】and 又【yòu】with Similar Examples.

4. When 再【zài】and 又【yòu】are Used in the Same Sentence.

I．Usage of the Adverb 再【zài】(again - future)

The adverb 再【zài=again】should be used to express repetition for future events.

Example 1:

I will count once again.

我【wǒ=I】再【zài=again】数【shǔ=count】一次【yīcì=once】。

我再数一次。

Example 2:

Next time, don’t be late again!

下次【xiàcì=next time】不要【bùyào=don’t】再【zài=again】迟到【chídào=late】了【le】！

下次不要再迟到了！

Example 3:

The boss is not in the office now, please all of you come again next week.

老板【lǎobǎn=boss】现在【xiànzài=now】不【bù=not】在【zài=exist】办公室【bàngōngshì=office】，请【qǐng=please】你们【nǐmen=you (second person plural)】下个星期【xiàgèxīngqī=next week】再【zài=again】来【lái=come】吧【ba】。

老板现在不在办公室，请你们下个星期再来吧。

II. Usage of the Adverb 又【yòu】(again in the past)

The adverb 又【yòu=again】is used to express repetition for past events.

Example 1:

Older brother bought a table again yesterday.

哥哥【gēgē=older brother】昨天【zuótiān=yesterday】又【yòu=again】买【mǎi=buy】了【le】一【yī=a, one】张【zhāng=a measure word for tables】桌子【zhuōzi=table】。

哥哥昨天又买了一张桌子。

Example 2:

I forgot to bring money again.

我【wǒ=I】又【yòu=again】忘【wàng=forget】带【dài=bring】钱【qián=money】了【le】。

我又忘带钱了。

Example 3:

He was just late again!

刚才【gāngcái=just now, a moment ago】他【tā=he】又【yòu=again】迟到【chídào=late】了【le】！

刚才他又迟到了！

III. The Differences between 再【zài】and 又【yòu】with Similar Examples

Example 1a:

Please come again next time.

你【nǐ=you】下次【xiàcì=next time】再【zài=again】来【lái=come】吧【ba】。

你下次再来吧。

Compared with example 1b:

You came again.

你【nǐ=you】又【yòu=again】来【lái=come】了【le】。

你又来了。

Example 2a:

We want to see this movie again.

我们【wǒmén=we】想【xiǎng=want to】再【zài=again】看【kàn=see】这【zhè=this】部【bù=a measure word for movies】电影【diànyǐng=movie】。

我们想再看这部电影。

Compared with example 2b:

We saw this movie again yesterday.

我们【wǒmén=we】昨天【zuótiān=yesterday】又【yòu=again】看【kàn=see】了【le】这【zhè=this】部【bù=a measure word for movies】电影【diànyǐng=movie】。

我们昨天又看了这部电影。

Example 3a:

Next time, don’t be late again!

下次【xiàcì=next time】不要【bùyào=don’t】再【zài=again】迟到【chídào=late】了【le】！

下次不要再迟到了！

Compared with example 3b:

He was just late again!

刚才【gāngcái=just now, a moment ago】他【tā=he】又【yòu=again】迟到【chídào=late】了【le】！

刚才他又迟到了！

IV. When 再【zài】and 又【yòu】are Used in the Same Sentence

Example:

My mobile phone froze up again, should I buy a new one again?

我的【wǒde=my】手机【shǒujī=mobile phone】又【yòu=again】死机【sǐjī=system halt, freeze up】了【le】，我【wǒ=I】应该【yīnggāi=should】再【zài=again】买【mǎi=buy】新【xīn=new】的【de】吗【ma】？

我的手机又死机了，我应该再买新的吗？