“futatabi” Meaning & Usage — “Again” (Written Japanese) [JLPT N1]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

The written word for “again / once more,” and how it differs from the spoken もう一度 — with examples. (JLPT N1)

「再び立ち上がった」 — the written ‘once more,' one 「と」 away from ‘never again'

The “once more” of news and literature, 「彼は逆境を乗り越え、再び立ち上がった」 (overcoming adversity, he stood up once more) — 「再び（ふたたび）・二度と」 both relate to “again,” but differ in use: 再び = once again, once more (written, neutral); 二度と = never again ～ (with a negative). This guide covers their division of labor, the written feel, and flags learners' commonest trap: 「二度と」 is not “twice,” but “never again.”

Core: 再び = once more (neutral), 二度と = never again (with a negative)

This set both means “again,” but differs in tone and pairing:

① 再び（ふたたび）= once again, once more (written, neutral):

• 五年ぶりに、再び故郷の地を踏んだ (after five years, I set foot on my hometown soil once more).
• 集中豪雨で、河川の水位が再び上昇した (due to torrential rain, the river level rose again).

② 二度と = never again ～ (with a negative, stressing resolve／refusal):

• あんな思いは、二度としたくない (I never want to feel that way again).
• 彼とは二度と会うことはないだろう (I'll probably never meet him again).

Feel: 「再び」 is a neutral, written “once more” — common in news, formal speeches, literary narration of “an event recurring” (再び戦争が起こった, 再び訪れる), with a stiff, formal feel; 「二度と」 almost only pairs with a negative, meaning “never again ～,” with strong resolve or refusal. In English: 再び = “once again, once more”; 二度と = “never again.”

Usage summary

Examples in context

• 大地震のあと、人々は再び日常を取り戻した。(After the great earthquake, people regained their daily life once more.) — written
• チャンスは再び巡ってくるとは限らない。(A chance won't necessarily come around again.)
• もう二度と、あんな失敗は繰り返さない。(I'll never repeat such a failure again.) — resolve
• 彼は「二度と戻らない」と言い残して去った。(He left, saying he'd “never come back.”)
• 歴史が再び繰り返されることのないように。(May history never repeat itself.)

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① 「二度と」 ≠ “twice,” but “never again” (most easily fooled by the characters). This is learners' most lethal misreading. Seeing 「二度,」 it's easy to be misled by the characters (二 = two, 度 = times → twice) into taking 「二度と行った」 as “went twice” — badly wrong! 「二度と」 = “never again ～,” and almost only pairs with a negative: 二度と行かない (never go again), 二度と会わない (never meet again). It expresses the strong refusal of “never a second time,” not “twice.” To say “twice” it's 「二度／二回」 (without 「と」): 二度行った = went twice (no 「と」, just “二度”); once you add 「と」 to make 「二度と,」 the meaning becomes “never again” (with a negative). Test: 「二度と ＋ negative」 → “never again”; 「二度／二回」 (no と) → “twice.” That 「と」 is key — one character apart, worlds of difference.

② 「二度と」 almost only pairs with a negative. The core attachment limit. 「二度と」 is almost always followed by a negative (〜ない・〜まい・〜ものか), meaning “never again ～”: 二度とするまい (I'll never do it again), 二度と行くものか (as if I'd ever go again). It doesn't take an affirmative: ✗ 二度と行く (affirmative, unnatural) — to say “go once more” (affirmative), use 「再び／もう一度」 (再び行く／もう一度行く). Mnemonic: 二度と ＋ negative = never again ～.

③ 「再び」 leans written; the register gap with 「もう一度／また.」 「再び」 and 「もう一度」「また」 all mean “again” (neutral), but differ in register. 「再び」 = once again, once more (written, formal, stiff): common in news, speeches, literature (再び訪れる, 再び繰り返す), less in everyday speech. 「もう一度」 = once more (colloquial, neutral): もう一度お願いします (please say it once more — natural colloquial). 「また」 = again (colloquial, lightest, most general): また明日 (see you tomorrow), また会おう (see you again). Difference: 「再び」 written, stiff; 「もう一度」 colloquial “once more”; 「また」 colloquial “again.” In everyday speech, “once more” is 「もう一度,」 “again” is 「また”; only in formal writing, news, speeches use 「再び.」 Test: written, formal → 再び; colloquial “once more” → もう一度; colloquial “again” → また. (And 「二度と」 is a different direction — “never again,” with a negative.)

🔄 Nuance & comparison: 再び／二度と／もう一度／また

💡 How to remember this

「再び・二度と」 both relate to “again” — three points: ① a division of labor in feel — 「再び = once again, once more」 (written, neutral); 「二度と = never again ～」 (with a negative, strong resolve); ②⭐the biggest trap: 「二度と」 is not “twice” — don't be fooled by the characters; 「二度と ＋ negative」 = never again (“twice” is 「二度／二回」 without と); ③ 「二度と」 almost only pairs with a negative, and 「再び」 leans written (colloquial “once more” is もう一度, “again” is また). The commonest error here is taking 「二度と」 as “twice” — remember “add 「と」 and it's ‘never again' (with a negative)” and you won't slip. To weightily say “once again ～” in writing use 「再び」; to strongly say “never again ～” use 「二度と〜ない.」

❓ Quick FAQ

Q: Does the 「二度と」 in 「二度と行かない」 mean “twice”?

No! This is the classic trap. 「二度と」 = “never (again) ～,” not “twice.” Learners, seeing 「二度,」 are easily misled by the characters (二 = two, 度 = times → twice) into taking 「二度と行かない」 as “won't go twice” — completely wrong. 「二度と行かない」 means “(I'll) never go again,” expressing the strong refusal／resolve of “absolutely no next time.” The key is that 「と」: 「二度と」 (with と) = never (again) ～, and almost only pairs with a negative: 二度と行かない (never go again), 二度と会わない (never meet again), 二度と間違えない (never make the mistake again). And 「二度／二回」 (without と) is “twice”: 二度行った = went twice (no 「と,」 just the quantity “二度”), 二回読んだ = read it twice. So: 「二度と行かない (never go again)」 vs 「二度行った (went twice)」 — one 「と」 apart, worlds of difference (one is “never again,” one is “twice”). Test: 「二度と」 followed by a negative → “never again”; 「二度／二回」 followed by an affirmative action → “twice.” Remember “と ＋ negative = never again” and you won't take 「二度と」 as “twice.” This is one of the most easily-confused points at N1 and in daily life.

Q: 「再び」 and 「もう一度」 both mean “once more” — how do I choose?

The difference is register (written vs colloquial). Both mean “again, once more” (neutral), but differ in formality. 「再び（ふたたび）」 = once again, once more (written, formal, stiffer): it carries a clear written-language color, common in news, formal speeches, literary narration, especially “an event recurring, a major event happening again”: 再び戦争が起こった (war broke out again — solemn news), 再び訪れる日を待つ (await the day of returning — literary), 景気が再び悪化した (the economy worsened again — financial reporting). It's formal, at a distance, less used in everyday speech. 「もう一度」 = once more (colloquial, neutral, natural): it's the everyday colloquial “once more,” natural and friendly: もう一度言ってください (please say it once more), もう一度チャレンジする (challenge once more), もう一度会いたい (I want to meet once more). Difference: 「再び」 written, formal, stiff (news／speeches／literature); 「もう一度」 colloquial, natural (everyday speech). Test: writing formal prose, news, a speech, to weightily say “once again ～” → 再び; everyday speech, naturally saying “once more” → もう一度. E.g. a speech 「私たちは再び立ち上がらねばならない (we must rise once again — solemn)」 uses 再び; to a friend 「もう一度説明して (explain once more)」 uses もう一度. Same “once more,” one written and solemn, one colloquial and natural — pick the register-appropriate one.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「この失敗を教訓に、___繰り返さない。」(never again)

(A) 二度と　(B) 再び　(C) もう一度　(D) いつか

Q2. What does 「二度と」 commonly pair with?

(A) 〜ない (negative)　(B) 〜たい　(C) 〜よう　(D) 〜ましょう

Q3. What does 「再び立ち上がった」 mean?

(A) Stood up again

(B) Fell forever

(C) Stood up for the first time

(D) Doesn't stand up

Q4. What is the register of 「再び」?

(A) Written (spoken language uses もう一度 more)

(B) Children's speech

(C) Internet slang

(D) Command form

Q5. Which usage is correct?

(A) 二度と行かない。　(B) 二度と行く(肯定)。

(C) 再びない(否定は 二度と)。　(D) 再びを食べる。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) 二度と ── Never repeat this mistake again.

2. (A) 〜ない ── 二度と always pairs with a negative.

3. (A) ── Stood up again.

4. (A) ── Written.

5. (A) ── 「二度と行かない」 (with a negative) is correct.