再三 (zàisān) is a relatively formal adverb meaning “repeatedly,” “time and again,” or “on more than one occasion.” It is often used to emphasize that an action was done many times, sometimes implying insistence or persistence.
Grammatically, 再三 is usually placed before a two-syllable verb or verb phrase:
再三 + Verb
Although 再三 often refers to past events, aspect markers such as 了 and 过 are generally not used, as the idea of repetition is already contained in 再三 itself. That said, you may occasionally encounter 了 in real usage, especially in written or formal contexts.
Because of its tone, 再三 is more common in written Chinese, news articles, formal speech, or narratives, rather than casual conversation.
Sample Sentences
他再三强调这个问题的重要性。He repeatedly emphasized the importance of this issue.
政府再三表示不会改变目前的政策方向。The government repeatedly stated that it would not change the current policy direction.
老师再三要求学生按时提交作业。The teacher repeatedly demanded that students submit their assignments on time.
In a Text
老师在学期初就再三强调学习态度的重要性。他认为，良好的态度是取得好成绩的基础，因此在第一次班会上，他就再三提醒学生，上课时不仅要认真听讲，还要积极参与讨论，并按时完成作业。尽管如此，随着学期的进行，仍然有少数学生没有遵守相关规定，学习情况也没有明显改善。对此，老师在之后的班会上再三表示，只有通过不断的努力，养成良好的学习习惯，学生才能在未来的学习和工作中取得真正、长远的进步。
按时 (ànshí): on time; punctually
尽管如此 (jǐnguǎn rúcǐ): even so; nevertheless; despite this
养成良好 (yǎngchéng liánghǎo): to develop good (habits)
At the beginning of the semester, the teacher repeatedly emphasized the importance of having the right attitude toward studying. He believed that a good attitude is the foundation for achieving strong academic results, so at the first class meeting he reminded students time and again that in class they should not only listen attentively but also actively participate in discussions and complete their homework on time. Even so, as the semester went on, a small number of students still failed to follow the relevant rules, and their academic performance showed no clear improvement. In response, the teacher repeatedly stated at later class meetings that only through continuous effort and the development of good study habits can students achieve real and long-term progress in their future studies and careers.
Enjoying Mandarin Zest? Help us keep creating weekly posts by making a monthly or yearly pledge. Every bit of support counts — 谢谢！
Really appreciate how you explain that 再三 doesnt need 了 or 过 since the repetition is already baked in. That's one of those subtle grammar things that trips up intermediate learners constantly. I remmeber making that exact mistake in my HSK 5 prep, adding 过 everyhere thinking it would clarify the timing. The formal register note is super useful too, helps learners understand when to actually deploy this in conversations versus writing.