再 zài — again; twice · English

再

zài

again; twice

At a glance · 再

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

甲骨文象鱼（或一）两次之形，本义为两次、第二次。小篆作「再」。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

本义为两次、重复。

Structure

会意字，从一从冓省，表重复两次。

At a glance

Pinyinzài

Radical冂

Strokes6

UnicodeU+518D

Character type会意

Theme数术

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English again; twice Again, or a second time.

Français encore; deux fois Encore, ou une deuxième fois.

Español otra vez; dos veces Otra vez, o una segunda vez.

العربية مرة أخرى؛ مرتان مرة أخرى أو للمرة الثانية.

Русский снова; дважды Снова или во второй раз.

Common words

再zàiagain
再见zài jiàngoodbye

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