再

Composed of 冉 (representing stacked wooden pieces, “to advance upward”) and 一 (one).

The imagery is of placing one more layer upon what already exists - “again, repeated.”

Original gloss “two” survives only as an archaic meaning; for the numeral 2, 二 is standard.

Semantic range:

- again, once more, repeatedly;

- second time, repetition;

- prefix “re-” (재활용 reuse, 재시험 retest, etc.);

- archaic: the number two (rare).

再三 (재삼) — repeatedly, over and over

再見 (재견) — goodbye; literally “see again”

再生 (재생) — regeneration, replay, recycling

再考 (재고) — reconsideration

再婚 (재혼) — remarriage

In Korean and Sino-Xenic vocabularies, 再- functions like the English prefix re- (“do again”), forming many compound terms.

In Classical Chinese texts, 再 often marks repetition or a second occurrence (e.g. 再拜 “to bow twice,” a gesture of respect).

Japanese reading ふたたび (futatabi) preserves the older “twice/again” nuance in native usage.