In 15 Seconds
- A polite way to ask someone to repeat themselves.
- The 'ba' particle makes the request sound friendly and soft.
- Perfect for when you don't understand or didn't hear clearly.
Meaning
This phrase is used when you didn't catch something and need the speaker to repeat themselves. It is a polite but direct way to ask for a 'do-over' in a conversation.
Key Examples
3 of 6At a noisy restaurant
不好意思，请再说一遍吧。
Sorry, please say that again.
In a business meeting
那个日期我没听清，请再说一遍吧。
I didn't hear that date clearly, please say it again.
Texting a friend about a voice note
信号不好，你再说一遍吧！
Bad signal, say it again!
Cultural Background
The particle 'ba' (吧) is a linguistic 'hug' in Chinese. It softens the tone to ensure the listener doesn't feel bossed around. In fast-paced urban China, this phrase is a polite way to navigate the noise of daily life.
The 'Ba' Magic
Always keep the 'ba' at the end. Without it, '再说一遍' sounds like a command you'd give to a dog or a subordinate.
Body Language Matters
Lean in slightly and tilt your head. This universal sign of 'I'm listening' makes the phrase feel even more sincere in China.
In 15 Seconds
- A polite way to ask someone to repeat themselves.
- The 'ba' particle makes the request sound friendly and soft.
- Perfect for when you don't understand or didn't hear clearly.
What It Means
再说一遍吧 is your go-to safety net in Chinese. It literally means "say it again one more time." The 吧 at the end softens the command. It turns a direct order into a gentle suggestion. It is like saying "Could you say that again?" instead of "Repeat that."
How To Use It
You use this when the world moves too fast. Maybe the waiter spoke like a machine gun. Maybe your friend used a word you haven't learned yet. Just drop this phrase to hit the pause button. You can add 请 (please) at the start to be extra polite. It works as a full sentence or a follow-up.
When To Use It
Use it when you are genuinely confused. It is perfect at a noisy bubble tea shop. Use it in a meeting when a colleague mentions a deadline. It is great for texting when a voice message is muffled. It shows you are listening and actually care about what they said. People appreciate the effort to understand!
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it if you are angry unless you want to sound confrontational. In a fight, it sounds like "Say that to my face again!" Also, avoid using it with high-ranking bosses without adding 不好意思 (excuse me). Without a softener, it can feel a bit too blunt for formal hierarchies. If you're in a very formal speech, there are fancier ways to ask.
Cultural Background
Chinese culture values "mianzi" or face. Admitting you didn't hear something is totally fine. However, using the particle 吧 is a cultural shortcut to being likable. It shows you aren't demanding information; you're inviting them to share it again. It bridges the gap between a stranger and a friend.
Common Variations
You will often hear 请再说一遍 in classrooms. Friends might just say 再说一次. If you are really struggling, you might hear 慢点说 (speak slower). But 再说一遍吧 is the perfect middle ground for most daily interactions. It is the "Goldilocks" of repetition phrases—just right.
Usage Notes
This phrase sits comfortably in the 'neutral' category. It is safe for 90% of situations. The main 'gotcha' is confusing it with '再说吧', which is used to delay a decision.
The 'Ba' Magic
Always keep the 'ba' at the end. Without it, '再说一遍' sounds like a command you'd give to a dog or a subordinate.
Body Language Matters
Lean in slightly and tilt your head. This universal sign of 'I'm listening' makes the phrase feel even more sincere in China.
Don't Overuse with Bosses
If you have to ask a CEO to repeat three times, switch to '抱歉，我反应有点慢' (Sorry, I'm a bit slow to react) to save their face.
Examples
6不好意思，请再说一遍吧。
Sorry, please say that again.
Adding 'sorry' makes it very polite for service staff.
那个日期我没听清，请再说一遍吧。
I didn't hear that date clearly, please say it again.
Professional yet clear and direct.
信号不好，你再说一遍吧！
Bad signal, say it again!
Informal and uses an exclamation for energy.
太好笑了，再说一遍吧，我还要听！
That's so funny, say it again, I want to hear it more!
Shows enthusiasm and appreciation for the humor.
你说什么？再说一遍吧，我不敢相信。
What did you say? Say it again, I can't believe it.
Used to express shock or disbelief.
这个词很难，请再说一遍吧。
This word is hard, please say it one more time.
Commonly used in language exchange settings.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct particle to soften the request.
请再___一遍___。
'说' means speak/say, and '吧' is the softening particle for suggestions.
Complete the sentence to ask politely in a shop.
不好意思，我没听懂，请___。
When you don't understand (没听懂), you ask the person to say it again.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of Asking to Repeat
Short and blunt for close friends.
再说一次。
The perfect balance for daily life.
再说一遍吧。
Highly respectful for elders or bosses.
麻烦您再重复一遍。
Where to use '再说一遍吧'
Ordering Food
When the menu is confusing.
Classroom
When the teacher is too fast.
Coffee Shop
Asking for the price again.
Phone Call
When the connection drops.
Practice Bank
2 exercises请再___一遍___。
'说' means speak/say, and '吧' is the softening particle for suggestions.
不好意思，我没听懂，请___。
When you don't understand (没听懂), you ask the person to say it again.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it is neutral and polite. Adding 请 (please) at the beginning makes it even better: 请再说一遍吧.
一遍 (yī biàn) implies from start to finish, while 一次 (yī cì) just means 'one time'. For speech, 一遍 is more common.
Absolutely! It is very common among friends. You can even drop the 请 to make it more casual.
You can say 不好意思，还是没听懂 (Sorry, I still don't understand). It's better to be honest!
No! 再说吧 (zài shuō ba) actually means 'Let's talk about it later' or 'We'll see'. Don't forget the 一遍!
Yes, it's used in meetings frequently. It's a standard way to ensure everyone is on the same page.
You can say 请说慢一点 (Qǐng shuō màn yīdiǎn). You can combine them: 请说慢一点，再说一遍吧.
The particle 吧 softens the sentence. It changes a command into a suggestion or a request.
If you say it with a sharp tone, it sounds like 'Say that again (I dare you)'. Tone is everything!
A more formal version is 麻烦您再重复一遍 (Máfan nín zài chóngfù yībiàn), which means 'Could I trouble you to repeat that'.
Related Phrases
再说吧
Let's talk about it later / We'll see.
再说一次
Say it one more time (slightly more casual).
请重复一下
Please repeat (more formal/technical).
什么？
What? (Very informal/blunt).
