Learn Korean: 또 + Verb

Let’s take a look at the Korean sentence pattern 또 + Verb. There are two ways to say again in Korean. One is 다시 and the other is 또. They are not very similar. 다시 is kind of plain while 또 has a negative and surprising feeling to it. When making a command, 다시 is used. If someone makes a mistake, we say 다시 해 (Do it again). If we didn’t hear what someone said, we say 다시 말해 (Say it again). We also use 다시 to talk about something that happened or will happen again. The feeling is plain. For example, if I love a drama so much, I would say 다시 볼 거야 (I will watch it again).

또 is used in a negative sense like when we feel annoyed by the repetition. If someone who cried earlier is crying again, I would say 또 울어? If someone who just had dinner is eating snacks again, I would say 또 먹어? But it is not always negative. For example, a girl dropped her purse at the bus stop earlier. I picked it up and gave it to her. A few hours later, we were in the same coffee shop. I said 또 만났네 (We met again). I don’t feel bad about it.

이건 또 왜 여기 있어?

Why is this here again? Didn’t I tell you to throw it away?

왜 또 쿨한 척해? 안 어울려.

Why are you acting cool again? It doesn’t suit you.

다시 안 갈 거야.

I will not go there again.