Definition
一而再 (yī ér zài) is a fixed idiom meaning 'repeatedly' or 'again and again'. It is often used in the longer pattern 一而再，再而三 (yī ér zài, zài ér sān), which emphasizes that an action occurs multiple times, usually with a negative nuance such as repeating a mistake. The phrase functions adverbially, commonly followed by 地 (de) when modifying a verb.
l
repeatedlyagain and again
Examples
- ，。Tā yī ér zài de chídào, lǎoshī hěn shēngqì.He was late repeatedly, and the teacher was very angry.
- 一而再，，。yī ér zài, zài ér sān de fàn tóng yí gè cuòwù, shízài bù yīnggāi.Making the same mistake again and again is really not acceptable.
- 一而再，。Tā duì wǒ yī ér zài de shuōhuǎng, wǒ wúfǎ zài xìnrèn tā.He lied to me repeatedly, and I can no longer trust him.
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