再次 vs 又: what is the difference?
再次 is formal and works in speech or writing for any repeated action. 又 usually looks back at something that has already repeated: 他又迟到了。 再 usually looks ahead: 请再说一遍。
| Word | Pinyin | What it does | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 再次 | zài cì | Means "once again" and is used in writing and formal speech. | subject + 再次 + verb |
| 又 | yòu | Repeats something that has already happened, so it looks back. | 又 + Verb + 了 |
再次 (zài cì)
Means "once again" and is used in writing and formal speech.
Structure: subject + 再次 + verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 谢谢大家的支持，我再次向你们表示感谢。 | Xiè xiè dà jiā de zhī chí, wǒ zài cì xiàng nǐ men biǎo shì gǎn xiè. | Thank you for your support. Once again, I express my thanks to you all. |
| 他再次打开箱子，还是没有找到钥匙。 | Tā zài cì dǎ kāi xiāng zi, hái shì méi yǒu zhǎo dào yào shi. | He opened the box again and still did not find the key. |
| 这家公司明年将再次提高价格。 | Zhè jiā gōng sī míng nián jiāng zài cì tí gāo jià gé. | The company will raise its prices again next year. |
Not: 再次我去了北京。 再次 comes after the subject and before the verb: 我再次去了北京。
又 (yòu)
Repeats something that has already happened, so it looks back.
Structure: 又 + Verb + 了
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他今天又忘带钥匙了。 | Tā jīn tiān yòu wàng dài yào shi le. | He forgot his keys again today. |
| 昨天下雨，今天又下雨了。 | Zuó tiān xià yǔ, jīn tiān yòu xià yǔ le. | It rained yesterday and it is raining again today. |
| 她又买了一条裙子。 | Tā yòu mǎi le yì tiáo qún zi. | She bought another skirt. |
Not: 我们下个月又见面吧。 又 is for what has already happened. A repeat in the future takes 再: 我们下个月再见面吧。
Where this comes from
The comparison is part of Frequency & Manner Adverbs: 偶尔、再次、偷偷 (HSK 5) in the grammar reference, which has the full explanation, more worked examples, and what to learn before and after it.
More pairs: 又 vs 再 · 从而 vs 因此 · 从…来看 vs 在…看来 · 大都 vs 都 · 跟…相比 vs 跟…一样 · 过于 vs 太 · 看不得 vs 看不懂 · 累坏了 vs 累得不得了 · 凭 vs 依据 · 起来 vs 下去 · 仍旧 vs 依旧 · 为了 vs 为的是 · all 81 pairs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 再次 and 又 or 再?
再次 is formal and works in speech or writing for any repeated action. 又 usually looks back at something that has already repeated: 他又迟到了。 再 usually looks ahead: 请再说一遍。
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