再び

• Reading: ふたたび
• Romaji: futatabi
• Kanji breakdown: 再 (sai/futata) — again, repeat, twice
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.ta.ta.bi/

Meaning

Again; once more; a second time. Expresses the repetition of an action or event.

An adverb with a more literary and emphatic tone than また (also 'again'). While また is casual and everyday, 再び suggests significance or weight — returning to something important or experiencing something notable a second time. Often used in written Japanese, news, speeches, and formal contexts. Common patterns: 再び訪れる (visit again), 再び始まる (begin again).

Examples

1. 十年ぶりに再びこの街を訪れた。 I visited this town again for the first time in ten years.
2. 嵐が去った後、再び太陽が顔を出した。 After the storm passed, the sun came out once more.
3. 失敗しても再び挑戦する気持ちが大切だ。 Even if you fail, the willingness to try again is what matters.

Usage Guide

Context: writing, news, speeches

Tone: reflective

Origin & History

From the kanji 再 (sai/futata, again/repeat), combined with the adverbial suffix び. The kanji 再 depicts doing something twice, with its original form showing two actions stacked.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal