Lại (Adv 2)

Situations

S1: John bought a bicycle in order to go to school. Before he went back home, John sold his bicycle to another person.

John đã bán lại chiếc xe trước khi về nước.
(John resold his bicycle before he went back home.)

In this situation, lại is used after certain verbs to indicate a transfer of ownership or the right of usage from one person to another (e.g., bán (sell), mua (buy), nhượng (cede), nhường (surrender), sang (release), để (bequeath)).

S2: Tân drove his car to the middle of the bridge, then met another one coming from the opposite direction.

Tân phải lùi xe lại.
(Tân had to back up his car.)

In this situation, lại indicates movement back to the starting point.

S3: Mrs. Thu came back from the beauty parlor; she looked much younger.

Bà Thu trông trẻ lại như một cô gái 20 tuổi.
(Mrs. Thu looks as young as a 20-year-old girl again.)

S4: Nam had to prepare an entire week for his exam. His face is pale and thin.

Mặt Nam tóp lại.
(Nam's face is gaunt.)

In this situation, lại indicates a change in direction regarding the action, property, or state that was just mentioned.

Definition

Lại, as an adverb, indicates a movement or change in direction.

  • Lại, as an adverb, indicates the direction which relates to: ra, đi, lên.
- Để nước trong tủ đá, nước sẽ đông lại.
  (Put water in the freezer and it will freeze.)
- Để đá ngoài nắng, đá sẽ chảy ra.
  (Put ice in the sunlight and it will melt.)

Lại as used in S1 usually goes together with certain verbs: bán, mua, nhượng, nhường, sang, để, etc.

Verb Combinations with Lại

Lại is often used with the following meanings:

  • a. To express the direction of narrowing (action), diminishing (things), or concentration in one place.
  • b. To express the direction of an action aimed at limiting, preventing, or inhibiting (especially in requests or commands).

Common Verbs:

  • bao: envelop
  • bọc: envelop, wrap
  • bóp: clench
  • cầm: hold
  • can: stop, prevent
  • chặn: stop, block
  • rút: shrink, retract
  • cứng: harden
  • dồn: gather
  • dừng: stop
  • ép: compress
  • gác: postpone
  • giữ: keep, detain
  • chai: hard, stale
  • kềm: contain
  • khô: dry
  • khóa: lock
  • đặc: thicken
  • nén: press together
  • ngăn: prevent
  • gom: gather together
  • săn: firm up