Translation guide
This guide covers how to express the idea of doing something over again in Japanese, from simply repeating an action to redoing it from scratch.
Express that an action is performed one more time or repeatedly.
A common and neutral way to say 'do something one more time'. Works with most verbs.
Please say it again.
Let's try it again.
Means 'again' in a casual, everyday sense. Often implies doing something another time, not necessarily immediately.
Come again, okay?
I made the same mistake again.
Means 'to repeat'. Used for doing something over and over, often in a cycle or pattern.
History repeats itself.
Don't repeat the same thing.
Express that an action is done over again, often because the first attempt was unsatisfactory.
The most direct equivalent of 'do over again'. Implies correcting or redoing something from scratch.
I redid my homework.
Specifically for rewriting text.
Means 'to come back and try again' or 'to start over after a failure'. Often used when someone leaves and returns later.
Express 'do over' in a more casual or emphatic way, often in spoken Japanese.
もう一度 is more specific to doing something one more time, while また can mean 'again' in a broader sense, including future occurrences. また can also mean 'also' or 'another', so context matters.
While V-直す is very useful, it implies redoing because the first attempt was wrong or insufficient. For simple repetition without correction, use もう一度 or また instead.
Let's start over from the beginning.
Specifically for remaking or rebuilding something. Used for physical objects, documents, etc.
Please redo the documents.
I rewrote the report.
出直してきます。
I'll come back and try again.