The Chinese phrase "等...再..." (děng... zài...)

 The Chinese phrase "等...再..." (děng... zài...) is used to express "wait until... then...". It signifies that an action (Action 2) will only happen after a certain condition or event (Action 1) is met or completed.

Structure:

• 等 (děng) + Condition/Event (Action 1) + 再 (zài) + Action 2

Meaning:

• You wait for Condition/Event 1 to occur, and only then do you perform Action 2.

Key Points & Nuances:

1. Waiting Component: The crucial element is "等" (děng), which means "to wait" or "until." It explicitly implies a waiting period or a prerequisite.
2. Future-Oriented: This structure is almost always used for future events.
3. Dependency: Action 2 is dependent on Action 1 being finished or true.
4. Optional "到" (dào): Sometimes, "等到" (děngdào) is used instead of just "等". "等到" emphasizes "waiting until a certain point in time or a certain condition is reached." Both are common.
5. Subject Placement: The subject can be before "等" or between "等" and the condition, depending on what feels most natural.

Examples:

• 等雨停了，我们再出去。

  • Děng yǔ tíng le, wǒmen zài chūqù.
  • Wait until the rain stops, then we'll go out.
  • (We won't go out until the rain has completely stopped.)

• 你等我一下，我再告诉你。

  • Nǐ děng wǒ yīxià, wǒ zài gàosù nǐ.
  • You wait for me a moment, then I'll tell you.
  • (I'll only tell you after you've waited for me.)

• 等他来了，我们再开始。

  • Děng tā lái le, wǒmen zài kāishǐ.
  • Wait until he arrives, then we'll start.
  • (We can't start until he's here.)

• 等到天黑了，灯就亮了。 (Using 等到)

  • Děngdào tiānhēi le, dēng jiù liàng le.
  • Wait until it gets dark, then the lights will turn on.
  • (The lights won't turn on until it's dark.)

• 你先等我把话说完，你再反驳。

  • Nǐ xiān děng wǒ bǎ huà shuō wán, nǐ zài fǎnbó.
  • You first wait for me to finish speaking, then you can refute.
  • (This combines 先...再... with 等...再..., emphasizing a very specific order of waiting then acting.)

• 等我拿到驾照，我就买一辆车。 (Here, 就 (jiù) can also be used instead of 再, implying a more direct or immediate consequence.)

  • Děng wǒ ná dào jiàzhào, wǒ jiù mǎi yī liàng chē.
  • Wait until I get my driver's license, then I'll buy a car.

Difference between "先...再..." and "等...再...":

• 先...再... (xiān... zài...): Focuses on the sequence of actions. Action 1 happens, then Action 2 happens. There's no inherent "waiting" implied beyond the natural progression of events.

  • Example: 我先吃饭，再睡觉。(I'll first eat, then sleep. - just describing the order of my actions.)

• 等...再... (děng... zài...): Focuses on a condition that must be met before the second action can take place. There's an explicit "waiting" for something to occur.

  • Example: 等我吃完饭，我们再睡觉。(Wait until I finish eating, then we'll sleep. - we are waiting for me to finish eating before sleeping.)

Think of it this way:

• 先...再... is about "what I do first, then what I do next."
• 等...再... is about "what needs to happen before I can do something else."

You can even combine them, as seen in one of the examples: 先等...再... This would mean "First, you wait for [condition], then you do [action]."

Mastering "等...再..." will greatly enhance your ability to express conditional or sequential actions in Chinese.