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再 (zài) — Doing Something Again (Future)

请再说一次 (qǐng zài shuō yí cì) — "Please say it one more time." That sentence is one of the most useful you'll ever speak in Mandarin. The character 再 (zài) sits right before a verb to signal that an action will happen again — and it always points to the future, never the past.

The Pattern: Subject + 再 + Verb

The structure is straightforward: place 再 directly before the verb. To ask someone to repeat what they said, you say 请再说一次 (qǐng zài shuō yí cì) — Please say it one more time. To tell someone you'll return another day, you say 我明天再来 (wǒ míngtiān zài lái) — I'll come again tomorrow. Use 再 to ask someone to repeat, request more of something, or state that you will do an action again. It never describes something that already happened — Mandarin uses a different word for past repetition.

How the Live Lesson Works

This HSK 2 speaking lesson targets just this one pattern and takes roughly 10 minutes. You talk out loud with AI teacher Mei Lin in real time — voice, not typing. Mei Lin corrects your grammar and pronunciation in the flow of conversation and adapts to your level. You'll practice asking her to repeat herself, requesting more of something, and telling her you'll do something again, all using 再 before the verb.

You can reinforce what you learn with the free printable Chinese worksheet generator, which includes ready-made packs covering HSK 1–3 vocabulary. For more lessons at this level, browse the HSK 2 lessons hub page. When you're ready, continue to another HSK 2 live lesson about 又 (yòu) for past repetition, or try a lesson on expressing probability with 可能 (kěnéng). The first lesson is free to try, so you can start talking with Mei Lin right away.

Frequently asked questions

What does 再 (zài) mean in Chinese?

再 (zài) means doing something again, but only in the future. You place it directly before a verb to say you will repeat an action, like 请再说一次 (qǐng zài shuō yí cì) — Please say it one more time. It never describes something that already happened in the past.

How is 再 (zài) different from 又 (yòu)?

再 (zài) is for Doing Something Again in the future, while 又 (yòu) describes repetition that already happened in the past. For example, 我明天再来 (wǒ míngtiān zài lái) — I'll come again tomorrow — uses 再 because the return hasn't happened yet.

What do I practice in the One More Time live lesson?

In this 10-minute live voice lesson, you talk with AI teacher Mei Lin and practice three things: asking someone to repeat what they said, requesting more of something, and telling someone you will do something again — all using the pattern Subject + 再 + Verb. Mei Lin corrects you in real time as you speak.

Can I try this HSK 2 speaking lesson for free?

Yes, the first live conversation lesson with Mei Lin is free to try. You talk out loud with Mei Lin, who corrects your grammar and pronunciation in real time and adapts to your level as you practice using 再 (zài) in natural conversation.

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