Why Does '피자를 다시 먹고 싶어요.' Sound Unnatural? (다시 VS 또)

I sometimes hear my students say '피자를 다시 먹고 싶어요.' 

However, this expression sounds a bit unnatural. 

Actually, saying '피자를 또 먹고 싶어요' sounds more natural.

My students are probably confusing the difference between '다시' and '또'.

because both can be translated as "again" in English.

However, they have different nuances and usages in Korean.

Let’s break them down with clear explanations and plenty of examples!

1. 다시 

- '다시' is used when something has ended, but there is a need to do it again for some reason.

- '다시' is used when there was a mistake or the result was not satisfactory, so it needs to be done again.

- '다시' has a similar meaning to 'retry' in English.

< Examples >

1. 이 문장을 다시 읽어 주세요. (Please read this sentence again.)

➡  It implies that there was a mistake or imperfection when reading the first time, requiring a re-read.

2. 사진이 잘 안 나왔어요. 다시 찍을까요?" (The picture didn’t come out well. Should we take it again?)

➡  Taking the picture again to fix a mistake.

3. 저는 다음 주에 시험을 다시 봐야 해요. (I have to retake the test next week.)

➡  Retaking the test because of failure or a mistake.

4. 선생님, 다시 설명해 주세요. (Teacher, please explain it again.)

➡  It implies that I didn’t fully understand when the teacher explained it the first time.

< Key Tip >

Use '다시' when the result is not perfect, requiring a correction or a restart from the beginning.

2. 또

- '또' is used when the same situation happens again, simply repeating the action.

- '또' can sometimes be used when a repeated situation becomes annoying.

- '또' has a similar meaning to 'once more in English.

< Examples >

1. 어제도 비가 왔는데, 오늘 또 비가 와요. (It rained yesterday, and it’s raining again today.)

➡ The same event (rain) is just happening again.

2. 저는 피자를 좋아해서 오늘 또 먹었어요. (I love pizza, so I ate it again today.)

➡ Eating pizza again, like before. 

3. 친구가 또 늦었어요. (My friend was late again.)

➡ It happened before, and it happened again. And it also implies frustration when the situation repeats

4. 너 또 장난쳐? (Are you joking around again?)

➡ The person has joked before, and now they are doing it again. So it implies annoyance.

< Key Tip >

If the action happens again in the same way as before, use '또'.

[ 숙제를 다시 해야 해요' vs. '숙제를 또 해야 해요' ]

1) 숙제를 다시 해야 해요.

- Saying it this way implies that the homework was not done correctly.

- So it means that this person needs to correct and redo the homework.

- Or, it can be used when there is a need to start over from the beginning for an undesirable reason.

< Example Situations>

- 숙제를 잘못 써서 다시 해야 해요. (I wrote my homework incorrectly, so I have to redo it.)

- 파일이 날아가서 숙제를 다시 해야 해요. (My file got deleted, so I have to do my homework again from scratch.)

2) 숙제를 또 해야 해요.

- It is used when the homework has already been done, but there is another assignment to do.

- It does not imply doing it again due to a mistake or something wrong.

< Example Situations>

- 어제도 숙제가 있었는데 오늘 또 해야 해요. (I had homework yesterday, and I have to do it again today.)

- 시험 기간이라서 선생님이 숙제를 또 주셨어요. (Since it's exam season, the teacher gave us homework again.)

[Mini Test]

1. 이 노래가 너무 좋아서 _____ 듣고 싶어요.  (I love this song, so I want to listen to it again.)

2. 방금 뭐라고 했어요? 잘 못 들었어요.  _____ 말해 주세요. (What did you say? I didn’t hear it well. Please say it again.)

3. 어제도 회의를 했는데 오늘 회의가  _____  있어요. (We had a meeting yesterday, and we have another meeting today.)

4. 친구가 어제도 놀러 왔는데 오늘 _____ 왔어요.  My friend visited yesterday, and they came again today.)

5. 시험을 망쳐서 _____ 봐야 해요.  (I failed the test, so I have to take it again.)

[Mini Test - 정답]

1. 이 노래가 너무 좋아서 또 듣고 싶어요.

2. 방금 뭐라고 하셨어요? 잘 못 들었어요. 다시 말해 주세요.

3. 어제도 회의를 했는데 오늘 회의가 또 있어요.

4. 친구가 어제도 놀러 왔는데 오늘 또 왔어요.

5. 시험을 망쳐서 다시 봐야 해요.

If you have any additional questions, feel free to ask in the comments!😊