N3Grammar

再(ふたた)び

Again, Once more, A second time

Structure

ふたたび + Phrase

Explanation

The adverb 再(ふたた)び signifies that an action is performed another time. It is commonly translated into English as 'once again', 'once more', or 'a second time'. Typically, 再(ふたた)び is placed at the beginning of a clause to indicate that the following action is a recurrence of a previous one.

彼(かれ)は試験(しけん)に落(お)ちたが、再(ふたた)び挑戦(ちょうせん)することにした。
He failed the exam, but he decided to try again.
再(ふたた)びあの人(ひと)に会(あ)いたいです。
I want to see that person one more time.

While it means 'again', 再(ふたた)び specifically implies that something is happening for a second, and often final, time. For this reason, it is not suitable for actions that are repeated multiple times.

Caution

In contrast to the common word また, which also expresses 'again', 再(ふたた)び carries a formal and literary tone. As a result, you are much more likely to encounter it in written materials like news articles or novels than in everyday conversation.

また明日(あした)お会(あ)いしましょう。
Let's meet again tomorrow. (Natural)
再(ふたた)び明日(あした)お会(あ)いしましょう。
Let's meet once more tomorrow. (Unnatural)

Examples

別(わか)れた恋人(こいびと)と再(ふたた)び会(あ)うなんて、夢(ゆめ)にも思(おも)わなかった。

I never even dreamed that I would meet my ex-lover again. (a second time)

やっと直(なお)ったと思(おも)ったら、パソコンが再(ふたた)びフリーズした。

Just when I thought it was finally fixed, the computer froze again. (a second time)

彼(かれ)は失敗(しっぱい)にもめげず、再(ふたた)びその難(むずか)しい山(やま)に挑戦(ちょうせん)した。

Undeterred by his failure, he challenged that difficult mountain once more. (again)

あのチームは再(ふたた)び決勝(けっしょう)に進(すす)んで、みんなを驚(おどろ)かせた。

That team surprised everyone by advancing to the finals again. (a second time)

画家(がか)は再(ふたた)び筆(ふで)を取(と)り、故郷(ふるさと)の風景(ふうけい)を描(えが)き始(はじ)めた。

The artist picked up their brush once more and began to paint the scenery of their hometown. (again)

一度(いちど)却下(きゃっか)された企画(きかく)を、再(ふたた)び提出(ていしゅつ)する勇気(ゆうき)はなかった。

I didn't have the courage to submit the plan that had been rejected once a second time. (again)

彼女(かのじょ)は心(こころ)を入(い)れ替(か)えて、再(ふたた)び日記(にっき)をつけ始(はじ)めた。

She turned over a new leaf and started keeping a diary again. (once more)

戦争(せんそう)で焼(や)けてしまった桜(さくら)の木(き)が、再(ふたた)び花(はな)を咲(さ)かせた。

The cherry blossom tree that was burned down in the war has bloomed with flowers once more. (again)

再(ふたた)び争(あらそ)いが起(お)こらないように、平和(へいわ)を願(ねが)いましょう。

Let's pray for peace so that conflict does not break out again. (a second time)

警報(けいほう)が鳴(な)り止(や)んだと思(おも)ったら、再(ふたた)び鳴(な)り始(はじ)めた。

Just when I thought the alarm had stopped ringing, it started up again. (a second time)

若(わか)い頃(ころ)のように再(ふたた)び旅(たび)に出(で)られたらいいのになあ。

I wish I could go on a journey once more, just like when I was young. (again)

再(ふたた)び会(あ)えると信(しん)じて、私(わたし)はここで待(ま)ち続(つづ)けます。

Believing that we will meet again, I will continue to wait here. (once more)