一再／再三
again and again; repeatedly
Structure
主语 一再／再三 动词 ； 考虑／犹豫 再三
What it means
Both mean “again and again, repeatedly”: something was done more than once, insistently.
How it is built
Subject + 一再／再三 + verb: 妈妈再三叮嘱我路上小心 (Mum told me over and over to be careful). 再三 can also follow verbs of weighing up: 考虑再三, 犹豫再三.
When to use it
一再 also suits things that keep happening against our wishes: 航班一再推迟. Both are a little formal; in speech people often say 好几次 or 一遍又一遍.
Watch out
Only 再三 can follow a few verbs of weighing up: ✗ 考虑一再 ✓ 考虑再三. Otherwise both go before the verb: 一再强调, 再三叮嘱.
Examples
班主任一再提醒大家，考试前也不能熬夜。
The class teacher kept reminding everyone not to stay up late, even before exams.
出门前，妈妈再三叮嘱我路上小心。
Before I left, Mum told me over and over to be careful on the way.
他考虑再三，最后还是选了物理。
After thinking it over and over, he chose physics in the end.
Learn this in Lesson 17 · HSK 5: 中学生的一天 (A school day in China)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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