又⋯⋯了

yòu …… le

Expressing "again" in the past with "you"

又 is "again" for repetitions that have already happened.

又 + Verb + 了

How it works

你又迟到了 — you're late again. The 又 and the closing 了 work as a pair.

The split with 再 is the thing to remember: 又 looks back at a repetition that occurred, 再 forward to one that hasn't.

又 often carries mild exasperation, which 再 does not.

Examples

  • nǐ yòu chí dào le

    你又迟到了。

    You're late again.

  • tā yòu wàng le dài yào shi

    他又忘了带钥匙。

    He forgot his keys again.

  • jīn tiān yòu xià yǔ le

    今天又下雨了。

    It's raining again today.