What does it mean word for word?
The character 再 (zài) means 'again' and is used to indicate the repetition of an action.
Which one should you use?
You can also use 重复一下 to mean 'Repeat it, please' in a casual setting.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 你能再说一遍吗？ is an informal phrase used with friends meaning Can you say it again? For a more polite and formal request, you should use 请再说一遍, which adds 请 (qǐng) at the beginning to make the request more polite and formal than the default form. For a very casual, blunt way to ask someone to repeat themselves, often used among friends, you might hear 你说啥？
How do you pronounce it?
nǐ néng zài shuō yí biàn ma?
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes confuse 再 (zài) with 又 (yòu). Use 再 when asking for a future repetition of an action, not for something that has already happened.
Did you know?
- When using 你说啥？ (nǐ shuō shá), the word 啥 (shá) is a colloquial version of 什么 (shénme) that originates from Northern Chinese dialects. Using it can make a speaker sound more like a local from the North.
- Chinese speakers might use the phrase 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si), meaning 'sorry' or 'excuse me', before asking 你能再说一遍吗？ This softens the request and signals that the listener is taking responsibility for the misunderstanding.
- In high-context social situations, a listener might simply tilt their head and say 嗯？ (èn) with a rising tone. This single sound functions as a complete request for the speaker to repeat what they just said.
Examples in context
- 您好，我没听清楚，请再说一遍。Hello, I didn't hear clearly, please say it again.
- 嘿，你能再说一遍吗？我没听清楚。Hey, can you say it again? I didn't hear clearly.
- 重复一下，我没明白。Repeat it, please. I didn't understand.
- 对不起，你能再说一遍吗？duì bù qǐ, nǐ néng zài shuō yí biàn ma?Sorry, can you repeat that?
- 我没听清楚，你能再说一遍吗？wǒ méi tīng qīng chǔ, nǐ néng zài shuō yí biàn ma?I didn't hear clearly, can you repeat that?
- 太快了，你能再说一遍吗？tài kuài le, nǐ néng zài shuō yí biàn ma?It was too fast, can you repeat that?
Example conversation
In a classroom, a student asks the teacher to repeat a word.
- 梓涵 Zihan老师，对不起，你能再说一遍吗？lǎo shī, duì bù qǐ, nǐ néng zài shuō yí biàn ma?Teacher, sorry, can you repeat that?
- 俊杰 Junjie没问题，我再说一遍。méi wèn tí, wǒ zài shuō yí biàn.No problem, I will say it again.
- 梓涵 Zihan谢谢你，老师。xiè xiè nǐ, lǎo shī.Thank you, teacher.
- 俊杰 Junjie不客气，梓涵。bú kè qì, zǐ hán.You're welcome, Zihan.
