Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"

Nível: HSK 3 | Categoria: Gramática

Explicação da Regra:

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." In the pattern below, 先 means "first" and 再 has a meaning of "then" or "and then." You may have learned that 再说 can mean "in addition." Well, the usage of 再 here is a more literal combination of 再说, fitting into the 先⋯⋯再⋯⋯ pattern. So in this usage, 再说 doesn't really mean "in addition." Rather, it most literally means, "and then we'll talk." In other words, "let's just do this now," and then after we see the result, we can talk some more about next steps. There's a "let's see how this goes first" feeling to the expression.

Exemplos com Falantes Nativos:

• 先洗手再吃。 (xiān xǐ shǒu zài chī 。): "Wash your hands before eating."
• 我喜欢先洗澡，再睡觉。 (wǒ xǐhuān xiān xǐzǎo ，zài shùijué 。): "I like to take a bath before sleeping."
• 请你先买票再进去。 (qǐng nǐ xiān mǎi piào zài jìnqù 。): "Please buy a ticket before entering."
• 你要先做作业，再看电视。 (nǐ yào xiān zuò zuòyè ，zài kàn diànshì 。): "You have to do your homework before watching TV."
• 我想先找工作，再搬家。 (wǒ xiǎng xiān zhǎo gōngzuò ，zài bānjiā 。): "I want to find a job before moving."

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