Meaning of 一再
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- repeatedly
How to use 一再
一再 goes before a verb and often describes someone stressing, asking, or reminding more than once, sometimes with a sense of insistence. It is common in written and formal speech. Example: 老师一再提醒我们别迟到。(Lǎoshī yīzài tíxǐng wǒmen bié chídào.) The teacher reminded us again and again not to be late.
一 (yī) means one, and 再 (zài) means again. One time, then again and again, so 一再 means something happens repeatedly.
Common mistake: Learners often use 一再 for neutral habits, like 我一再喝咖啡. That sounds odd. For simple repeated actions use 经常 (jīngcháng) or 常常 (chángcháng), and save 一再 for repeated requests, warnings, or efforts. Also remember the tone change: 一 is read yí before a fourth tone, so it sounds like yízài.
一再 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
一 yī · one · 1 strokes
- 1
再 zài · again · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Related words
Words that share a character with 一再.
| 一起 | yīqǐ | (in) the same place; together; in company (with) |
| 一样 | yīyàng | same; like |
| 一些 | yīxiē | some; a few; a little; (following an adjective) slightly ...er |
| 再见 | zàijiàn | goodbye; see you again later |
| 一会儿 | yīhuìr | a moment; a while |
| 一半 | yībàn | half |
| 一边 | yībiān | one side; either side |
| 一点儿 | yīdiǎnr | erhua variant of 一點|一点[yi1 dian3] |
| 一块儿 | yīkuàir | erhua variant of 一塊|一块[yi1 kuai4] |
| 一下儿 | yīxiàr | erhua form of 一下[yi1 xia4] |
| 有一些 | yǒuyīxiē | somewhat; rather |
| 一定 | yīdìng | surely; certainly; definitely; fixed; settled |
Questions about 一再
What does 一再 mean?
一再 (yīzài) means "repeatedly" and is used as a adverb.
How do you write 一再?
一再 is made of 2 characters: 一 (1 strokes), 再 (6 strokes). That is 7 strokes in total.
Is 一再 an HSK word?
Yes. 一再 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 一再 and 再三?
Both mean repeatedly and are often interchangeable before verbs like 提醒 or 要求. 再三 can also come after a verb, as in 考虑再三 (kǎolǜ zàisān, think it over many times), while 一再 only goes before the verb.
Can 一再 be used in negative sentences?
Yes. It often describes something repeated that went wrong, as in 他一再失败 (tā yīzài shībài, he failed again and again). You can also say 一再拒绝 (yīzài jùjué), to refuse repeatedly.