再三 (over and over again)

• Pinyin: zàisān
• Formation: 再三 + Verb
• Hanzi breakdown: 再 = 一 (one) + 冂 (borders) + 土 (earth); 三 = three horizontal strokes (three)

Meaning

再三 (zàisān) means 'over and over again' or 'repeatedly.' It is used before a verb to emphasize that an action has been done multiple times, often with a sense of earnestness or insistence.

再三 conveys deliberate, repeated action rather than habitual behavior. It carries a formal or literary tone compared to the more colloquial 一再, though both mean 'repeatedly.' 再三 emphasizes the persistence and seriousness of the action — often used with verbs like 考虑 (consider), 强调 (emphasize), 请求 (request), or 叮嘱 (urge). Unlike 反复 which suggests back-and-forth cycles, 再三 stresses the number of attempts in one direction. It typically appears in written or semi-formal contexts.

Examples

1. 医生再三叮嘱他要按时吃药。 The doctor repeatedly reminded him to take his medicine on time.
2. 我再三考虑之后，决定接受这份工作。 After considering it over and over, I decided to accept this job.
3. 老师再三强调考试不能迟到。 The teacher repeatedly emphasized that no one should be late for the exam.

Usage Guide

Context: written, formal speech

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 领导再三要求大家注意安全问题。
• 他再三向朋友道歉，希望得到原谅。
• 妈妈再三嘱咐我路上要小心。

Don't Say

• 我再三吃饭了。(再三 is used with deliberate, purposeful actions, not routine activities like eating) → 我吃了好几顿饭了。
• 他再三地高。(再三 modifies verbs, not adjectives) → 他非常高。

Origin & History

再三 literally means 'again and three times' — 再 (again) and 三 (three). In classical Chinese, 三 often represented 'many' rather than exactly three, so 再三 came to mean 'multiple times' or 'repeatedly.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal