重新 means 'again' or 'anew' and functions primarily as an adverb in Chinese. It combines two characters: 重 (chóng), meaning 'to repeat' or 're-', and 新 (xīn), meaning 'new'. Together, they convey the sense of doing something once more—often with intention to correct, restart, or renew. Unlike the simpler 再 (zài), which also means 'again', 重新 emphasizes a fresh start or re-doing with awareness, often after failure, change, or interruption.

This word commonly appears before verbs—for example, 重新开始 (chóng xīn kāi shǐ, 'to start again') or 重新考虑 (chóng xīn kǎo lǜ, 'to reconsider'). It’s neutral in register and used in both spoken and written contexts, from casual conversation ('Let’s restart the game') to formal writing ('The committee will re-examine the policy'). It implies agency and purpose—not just repetition, but intentional renewal.