▎再說, zàishuō, (Conj), besides, moreover

 

Function The conjunction (S2) 再說 introduces a new sentence that provides further clarification or elaboration about what was said in the preceding sentences.

1 還是刷卡吧。我沒帶那麼多現金。再說，刷卡還可以再打九五折。

Háishì shuākǎ ba. Wǒ méi dài nàme duō xiànjīn. Zàishuō, shuākǎ hái kěyǐ zài dǎ jiǔwǔ zhé.

I’m just going to use my credit card. I didn’t bring that much cash. What’s more, I can get another 5% off by swiping my credit card.

2 電信公司的中文合約那麼長。再說，他是外國人。怎麼可能看得懂？

Diànxìn gōngsī de Zhōngwén héyuē nàme cháng. Zàishuō, tā shì wàiguó rén. Zěnme kěnéng kàndedǒng?

The phone company’s Chinese contract is so long. In addition, he is a foreigner. How is he possibly going to understand?

3 我女朋友一定會生我的氣的。這是我掉的第三支手機了。再說，手機是她送給我的生日禮物。

Wǒ nǚpéngyǒu yídìng huì shēng wǒ de qì de. Zhè shì wǒ diào de dìsān zhī shǒujīle. Zàishuō, shǒujī shì tā sòng gěi wǒ de shēngrì lǐwù.

My girlfriend is bound to be angry with me. This is the third cell phone I've lost. Besides, this was the cell phone she gave me for my birthday.

4 我準備的材料夠包一百多個餃子。再說，我還做了好幾道菜。大家一定都能吃飽。

Wǒ zhǔnbèi de cáiliào gòu bāo yìbǎi duō ge jiǎozi. Zàishuō, wǒ hái zuòle hǎojǐ dào cài. Dàjiā yídìng dōu néng chībǎo.

I prepared enough ingredients to make over 100 dumplings. In addition, I made several other dishes. Everybody is bound to eat their fill.

5 你應該趁學校放假到南部海邊看看。再說，你還沒玩過水上摩托車。值得去試一試。

Nǐ yīnggāi chèn xuéxiào fàngjià dào nánbù hǎibiān kànkàn. Zàishuō, nǐ hái méi wánguò shuǐshàng mótuōchē. Zhídé qù shì yí shì.

You should take advantage of the school break to go to the seaside down south and check it out. What’s more, you've never ridden a jet ski. It’s worth a try.

 

Usage

(1) Both 而且érqiě and 再說 are used to connect the current sentence with preceding sentences, both translatable as ‘moreover’. 而且 suggests that what is said in the current sentence and the preceding sentence are on equal footing, while 再說 highlights that what is said in the current sentence is a further addition or elaboration on top of what was said in the preceding sentences. For example, the 而且 in 他的房間要有家具，而且光線要好。Tā de fángjiān yào yǒu jiājù, érqiě guāngxiàn yào hǎo. ‘He wants a room with furniture and good lighting.’ cannot be replaced by 再說.

(2) 而且 can connect two words or two sentences. 再說 can connect only sentences. For example, the 而且 in 他一定能找到便宜而且合適的房子。Tā yídìng néng zhǎodào piányí érqiě héshì de fángzi. ‘He’s bound to be able to find an inexpensive and suitable house.’ in which 而且 cannot be replaced by 再說.