Meaning
再说 has two main uses. First, as a conjunction meaning 'moreover' or 'besides,' it adds another reason or point to support an argument. Second, as a verb phrase meaning 'talk about it again later,' it suggests postponing a decision or discussion. The meaning depends heavily on context and sentence position.
Usage
When used at the beginning or middle of a sentence, 再说 typically means 'furthermore' and adds supporting evidence. When used at the end or as a standalone response, it means 'let's talk later' and often implies uncertainty or reluctance to commit. Very common in both spoken and written Chinese for giving multiple reasons or politely deflecting immediate decisions.
Examples
- 01我今天很累，再说明天还要早起，所以不去了。, , .I'm very tired today, and besides, I have to get up early tomorrow, so I'm not going.
- 02这件事现在不用决定，到时候再说吧。, .We don't need to decide on this matter now; let's talk about it when the time comes.
Characters
Common collocations
- 以后再说let's talk about it later
- 到时候再说we'll discuss it when the time comes
- 再说了besides, moreover (emphatic)
Origin
Literally 'again say,' the word combines the repetition marker 再 with the verb 说 'to speak.' Both the 'moreover' and 'discuss later' meanings derive from the idea of 'saying something additional.'