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.
もう一度言ってください。
Please say it again.
もう一度やってみよう。
Let's try it again.
Means 'again' in a casual, everyday sense. Often implies doing something another time, not necessarily immediately.
また来てね。
Come again, okay?
また同じ間違いをした。
I made the same mistake again.
Means 'to repeat'. Used for doing something over and over, often in a cycle or pattern.
歴史は繰り返す。
History repeats itself.
同じことを繰り返さないで。
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.
宿題をやり直した。
I redid my homework.
最初からやり直そう。
Let's start over from the beginning.
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.
Specifically for remaking or rebuilding something. Used for physical objects, documents, etc.
書類を作り直してください。
Please redo the documents.
レポートを書き直した。
I rewrote the report.
I'll come back and try again.