再 vs 又 + Verb
再 (zài) vs 又 (yòu) — repeating an action (not yet vs already)
再 (zài) marks a repetition that hasn't happened yet — a planned, requested, or hypothetical 'again', so it pairs naturally with future markers like 会/要 and with commands: 明天再来 (come again tomorrow), 请再说一遍 (please say it one more time). 又 (yòu) marks a repetition that has already happened — you're reporting, as fact, that something recurred: 他又迟到了 (he was late again [it already happened]). The deciding question: has the repeat already taken place, or is it still ahead of you? Already happened → 又; still to come (a request, plan, or condition) → 再. Because 又 reports a completed recurrence, it never appears with 会/要, and 再 is the one that pairs with those future markers instead.
Examples
- 请再说一遍。qǐng zài shuō yí biàn
Please say it one more time.
- 他昨天又迟到了。tā zuó tiān yòu chí dào le
He was late again yesterday.
- 他又迟到了，老师让他以后别再迟到。tā yòu chí dào le, lǎo shī ràng tā yǐ hòu bié zài chí dào
He was late again; the teacher told him not to be late again in the future.
Common mistake
✗ Wrong: 我明天又去。
✓ Right: 我明天再去。
Talking about tomorrow (the future) requires 再, not 又 — 又 is reserved for repeats that have already happened.
Practice this pattern
Fill in the missing character:
请＿说一遍。
Please say it one more time.