When do I use 然后 vs 再 for 'then'?

Use 然后 as a conjunction to link events in order, meaning 'and then' or 'after that'. It connects clauses and can stand at the beginning of a new sentence. Use 再 as an adverb before the verb to indicate a planned next step, especially in the 先...再... pattern. If you need to start a clause with a subject (like 'then I...'), choose 然后. If you are only expressing the next action as part of a plan, choose 再.

Can I use 然后 and 再 together?

Yes, it is common and natural. Example: '我先吃饭，然后再去超市' — 然后 connects the clauses, and 再 emphasizes that the second action is planned. This combination is often used in everyday speech.

Is 再 always used with 先?

No, but it is very common. 再 can appear after other time phrases, such as 以后, as in '你做完以后再去' (finish it, then go). Without 先 or another marker, 再 might be ambiguous and could be read as 'again' depending on context.

How do I negate a sequence with 再?

Negating the sequence is tricky. Avoid '不先...再'. Instead, use '先别...再...' for suggestions (prohibition) or '先不...就...' for statements. For example: '先别急着走，再坐一会儿' (Don't rush to leave, sit a while longer). Alternatively, you can use 然后 + negative clause, e.g., '先吃饭，然后不去超市' (eat first, then not go to the supermarket).

Easily confusedHSK 3

然后 vs 再 (ránhòu vs zài): two ways to say “then”

然后 is a conjunction meaning "and then" or "after that", linking clauses in chronological order, while 再 is an adverb meaning "then" for a planned next action, often used in the 先...再... pattern. Learners often confuse them because both translate to "then" in English, but they have different grammatical roles and nuances about certainty and planning.

然后 and 再 both indicate sequence, but they differ in grammar and nuance. 然后 is a conjunction that connects clauses or sentences, like "and then" or "after that", and it is neutral about planning—it just states chronological order. 再 is an adverb placed before the verb of the second action; it often implies that the next action is planned or intentional, and it commonly appears in the 先...再... structure to mark a deliberate sequence. Using one instead of the other can change the flow from neutral narration to a planned agenda.

When to use each

然后ránhòu

then, after that

Use 然后 as a conjunction to link events in chronological order. It can start a new clause or sentence, meaning "and then" or "after that". It is appropriate for both past and future events and does not carry a sense of planning. For example: 我先吃饭，然后我去看书 (I eat first, then I read).

再zài

then (do next), again

Use 再 as an adverb before the verb to indicate that the action happens after another action, often as a planned next step. It is frequently used in the pattern 先...再... to specify order. 再 can also mean "again" in other contexts, but when expressing sequence, it implies that the second action is intended or scheduled. Example: 我们先讨论，再决定 (We'll discuss first, then decide).

再 often pairs with 先 to create a clear order of planned actions. In contrast, 然后 can be used alone to simply tell a story in order. 再 emphasizes the sequence as part of an arrangement.

At a glance

	然后	再
Grammatical role	Conjunction (links clauses)	Adverb (modifies verb)
Placement in sentence	At beginning of second clause, before subject	Immediately before the verb of the second clause
Implied planning	Neutral (factual sequence)	Planned or intentional next step
Common structure	Clause 1，然后 + Clause 2	先 + Action 1，再 + Action 2
Can mean 'again'?	No	Yes (in other contexts)
Negation in sequence	Negate the second clause (e.g., 然后没有...)	Not common; use restructuring like 先别...再... or 先不...就... instead of 不先...再

Examples

然后
我先吃饭，然后再去超市。
Wǒ xiān chīfàn, ránhòu zài qù chāoshì.
I'll eat first, and then go to the supermarket.
然后 connects the two clauses; combined with 再 it reinforces the planned sequence.
再
我先吃饭，再去超市。
Wǒ xiān chīfàn, zài qù chāoshì.
I'll eat first, then go to the supermarket (as planned).
Using 再 in the 先...再... pattern emphasizes the order as planned. 然后 could also be used but would be less specific about planning.
然后
昨天我去了银行，然后去了邮局。
Zuótiān wǒ qùle yínháng, ránhòu qùle yóujú.
Yesterday I went to the bank, and then went to the post office.
Factual sequence of past events; no planning implied.
再
我们先讨论，再做决定。
Wǒmen xiān tǎolùn, zài zuò juédìng.
We'll discuss first, then make a decision.
Planned steps; 再 indicates intentional order.
再
你做完作业以后，再出去玩。
Nǐ zuò wán zuòyè yǐhòu, zài chūqù wán.
After you finish your homework, then go out and play.
Sequence with 以后; 再 indicates the next planned action.
然后
他先去了图书馆，然后他没有去教室。
Tā xiān qùle túshūguǎn, ránhòu tā méiyǒu qù jiàoshì.
He first went to the library, and then he did not go to the classroom.
Negation in the second clause with 没有; 然后 still works as the connector.

Common mistakes

Using 再 before a subject like '再我吃饭' — 再 is an adverb, not a conjunction, so it cannot introduce a new clause with a subject. Use 然后 instead.
Using 然后 before a verb without linking two full clauses, e.g., '我然后去超市' — 然后 generally needs a preceding clause ('先...然后...' or '...，然后...'). A correct version is '我去超市，然后去银行' or '我先去超市，然后再去银行'.
Confusing the 'again' meaning of 再 with its sequential meaning. '我明天再去看你' can mean 'I'll go see you again tomorrow' (again) rather than a planned next step. Context determines the reading.
Incorrectly negating a 先...再... sequence with '不先...再' (e.g., *不先做作业再玩). Natural negation uses '先别...再...' or '先不...就...', for example: '先别走，再等一会儿' (Don't leave yet, wait a while longer).

FAQ

When do I use 然后 vs 再 for 'then'?: Use 然后 as a conjunction to link events in order, meaning 'and then' or 'after that'. It connects clauses and can stand at the beginning of a new sentence. Use 再 as an adverb before the verb to indicate a planned next step, especially in the 先...再... pattern. If you need to start a clause with a subject (like 'then I...'), choose 然后. If you are only expressing the next action as part of a plan, choose 再.
Can I use 然后 and 再 together?: Yes, it is common and natural. Example: '我先吃饭，然后再去超市' — 然后 connects the clauses, and 再 emphasizes that the second action is planned. This combination is often used in everyday speech.
Is 再 always used with 先?: No, but it is very common. 再 can appear after other time phrases, such as 以后, as in '你做完以后再去' (finish it, then go). Without 先 or another marker, 再 might be ambiguous and could be read as 'again' depending on context.
How do I negate a sequence with 再?: Negating the sequence is tricky. Avoid '不先...再'. Instead, use '先别...再...' for suggestions (prohibition) or '先不...就...' for statements. For example: '先别急着走，再坐一会儿' (Don't rush to leave, sit a while longer). Alternatively, you can use 然后 + negative clause, e.g., '先吃饭，然后不去超市' (eat first, then not go to the supermarket).