How to use 再不…也
Subject + 再不 + adjective / mental predicate，也 + unchanged response
再 can intensify a hypothetical degree in a concessive statement. When followed by 不 and a suitable adjective or mental predicate, 再不…也 means that even a strong lack of the quality or feeling does not change the response. The second clause commonly expresses a duty, limit, or decision that remains valid despite that negative attitude or circumstance.
Keep 也 with the unchanged response and make the first predicate describe a degree that can be extended. This differs from urgent 再不…就, where failing to act soon brings a consequence. The distinction comes from the whole construction, especially the following connector and predicate. Do not interpret every sequence beginning 再不 as a warning about time running out.
Examples with pinyin and English
他再不高兴，也不能骂人。
However unhappy he is, he cannot insult people.
The degree of unhappiness does not remove the restriction.
你再不喜欢这份工作，也要认真完成今天的任务。
However much you dislike this job, you still need to finish today's task carefully.
再不喜欢 is a concession about degree, not an urgent warning.
她再不愿意，也得亲自去一趟。
However reluctant she is, she still has to go there herself.
也得 states the obligation that remains despite reluctance.
What to remember
- Use 也 for the response that holds despite the concession.
- Choose a first predicate that permits a degree reading.
- Distinguish concession from the urgent 再不…就 pattern.
Practise the pattern
Use one example as a model. Change the people, objects or situation, keeping the grammar pattern in the same order. Read the explanation again to check how your sentence uses the construction.
Look up the grammar words
Source and editorial notes
Explanation and examples written for Laowai using the grammar curriculum as a topic reference. The original curriculum credits AllSet Learning’s Chinese Grammar Wiki as used with permission. Read the retained source credits.
Difficulty labels describe the level of the explanation; they are not official HSK placement. Send a correction with this page’s URL.