zài

Origin & Mnemonic:

Twice; a second time. Again, once more, another time, or then in sequence. A frame (冂) with a central stroke marking one action repeated.

Common Usage & Traps

  • 再见 (zàijiàn) — goodbye
  • 再来 (zàilái) — come again
  • 再吃 (zàichī) — eat more
  • 再喝 (zàihē) — drink more
  • 再买 (zàimǎi) — buy more
  • 再想 (zàixiǎng) — think again
  • 再玩 (zàiwán) — play again
  • 再睡 (zàishuì) — sleep more
  • 再家 在家

    再 means 'again', not 'at'. 在家 means 'at home'.

  • 再字 写字

    再 is not used to mean 'write'. 写字 means 'write characters'.

What is the difference between 再 and 在?

再 means 'again', while 在 means 'at' or 'in'.

再 (zài) is an adverb meaning 'again' or 'another time'. 在 (zài) is a preposition or verb meaning 'at', 'in', or 'to exist'. They sound the same but have different meanings and characters.

Dimension
Meaningagain, another timeat, in, to exist
UsageAdverb before verbPreposition or verb
Example再见 (goodbye)在家 (at home)

Can 再 be used alone as a word?

No, 再 is usually used before a verb and cannot stand alone.

再 is an adverb that must be followed by a verb or verb phrase. It cannot be used as a standalone word to mean 'again'. For example, you say 再来 (come again), not just 再.

DimensionNaturalAvoid
Usage再 + verb再 alone
Example再吃 (eat more)再 (incorrect)

Appears in Stories 5 stories

《谢谢你来看我》 Rain, Thank You for Visiting Me
HSK 1 ~2 min read 152 chars
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Before you read, close your eyes and imagine a rainy afternoon. This story uses simple HSK 1 words to show how rain can become a talking friend.

  • 再见

  • 再见

《你喜欢看老电影吗?》 Do You Like Old Movies?
HSK 2 ~3 min read 224 chars
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In this dialogue, two people chat while waiting outside a cinema. You'll hear common phrases for talking about hobbies, sports, and movie preferences.

  • 再见

《你好和再见》 Hello and Goodbye
HSK 1 ~1 min read 46 chars
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Before you start learning Chinese, master the most important phrases: greetings. This short dialogue shows you how to say hello and goodbye, and how to respond politely.

  • 再见 !

《我的家人(1)》 My Family Members
HSK 1 ~2 min read 116 chars
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Before you read, meet the grandparents! This rhyming chant helps you practice the different names for maternal and paternal grandparents in Chinese. Listen to the beat and repeat.

  • 宝宝宝宝妈妈的爸爸什么

《我的家人(2)》 My Family Members
HSK 1 ~2 min read 141 chars
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This playful rhyme helps you learn family words in Chinese. Practice saying who's who with simple questions and answers!

  • 小朋友这个女孩子

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