再 vs 然后: what is the difference?
再 is shorter and fits a plan or instruction, as in 先洗手再吃饭. 然后 sounds more like a spoken sequence of events.
| Word | Pinyin | What it does | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 再 | zài | Joins two steps in order in a plan or instruction, 'and then'. | 先 + A，再 + B |
| 然后 | rán hòu | Means 'and then' to continue a story. | A, 然后 + B |
再 (zài)
Joins two steps in order in a plan or instruction, 'and then'.
Structure: 先 + A，再 + B
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 先写作业，再看电视。 | Xiān xiě zuò yè, zài kàn diàn shì. | Do your homework first, then watch TV. |
| 先吃药，再睡觉。 | Xiān chī yào, zài shuì jiào. | Take the medicine first, then go to sleep. |
| 先坐地铁，再换公交车。 | Xiān zuò dì tiě, zài huàn gōng jiāo chē. | Take the metro first, then change to a bus. |
Not: 他吃了饭，再去学校了。 再 looks ahead and does not describe a finished story. For the past, use 然后: 他吃了饭，然后去学校了。
然后 (rán hòu)
Means 'and then' to continue a story.
Structure: A, 然后 + B
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他起床，然后喝了一杯水。 | Tā qǐ chuáng, rán hòu hē le yì bēi shuǐ. | He got up and then drank a glass of water. |
| 老师先说了一遍，然后让我们说。 | Lǎo shī xiān shuō le yí biàn, rán hòu ràng wǒ men shuō. | The teacher said it first, then had us say it. |
| 先左转，然后一直走。 | Xiān zuǒ zhuǎn, rán hòu yì zhí zǒu. | Turn left first, then walk straight on. |
Not: 我然后先吃饭。 然后 comes after the first step, not before it.
Where this comes from
The comparison is part of Sequential Compound Sentences: 先…再/然后 (HSK 2) in the grammar reference, which has the full explanation, more worked examples, and what to learn before and after it.
More pairs: 次 vs 遍 · 刚 vs 刚才 · 更 vs 还 · 还 vs 已经 · 看见 vs 看到 · 可以 vs 能 · 吗 vs 吧 · 吗 vs 是不是 · 如果 vs 只要 · 上去 vs 上来 · 往 vs 向 · 有点儿 vs 一点儿 · all 81 pairs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 再 and 然后?
再 is shorter and fits a plan or instruction, as in 先洗手再吃饭. 然后 sounds more like a spoken sequence of events.
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