B1 · Grammar reference · ASGLJM55
Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"
The word 再 (zài) actually has a lot of uses, beyond just "again," and in this pattern it means something like "and then." 先⋯⋯，再⋯⋯ (xiān..., zài...) is a pattern used for sequencing events, much like "first..., then..." in English. This pattern can also include 然后 (ránhòu), meaning "and after that."
- Keywords
- 先 · 再 · 然后 · then · first
- Used for
- Sequencing events in time · Expressing order · Listing
- Classification
- Adverbs · HSK3 · HSK4
Examples (11)
先洗手再吃。
我喜欢先洗澡，再睡觉。
请你先买票再进去。
你要先做作业，再看电视。
我想先找工作，再搬家。
先吃饭再说。
先休息一下再说。
你先看完再说。
我先问一下老板再说。
你们先讨论一下再说。
今天早上我起床以后先准备早饭，再叫孩子们起床，接着我们一起吃早饭，然后我送他们去学校。
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Summary, structure, classification, and adapted sentence examples draw from the AllSet Learning Chinese Grammar Wiki under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0; changes were made. This noncommercial reference is based on an October 2023 snapshot.
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