bùhǎoyìsi, qǐng zài shuō yí cì.

Here, 不好意思 is a polite softener. In this sentence, it works a lot like sorry or excuse me before asking someone to repeat something.

It does not literally mean the same thing in every situation. Depending on context, 不好意思 can mean:

• sorry
• excuse me
• I feel embarrassed
• I feel a bit awkward

In 不好意思，请再说一次。, it is basically a polite way to say:

• Sorry / Excuse me, please say it again.

Because 一 changes pronunciation depending on the tone of the word after it.

Basic tone:

• 一 = yī

But in normal speech:

• before a 4th-tone syllable, it becomes yí
• before a non-4th-tone syllable, it often becomes yì

Here, the next word is 次 (cì), which is 4th tone, so:

• 一次 = yí cì

Examples:

• 一天 → yì tiān
• 一年 → yì nián
• 一次 → yí cì
• 一样 → yí yàng

So 一 is still the same word; only the pronunciation changes.

次 is a measure word for occurrences or times.

So:

• 一次 = one time / once
• 两次 = two times
• 很多次 = many times

In 请再说一次, the phrase literally means:

• please say [it] one more time

Chinese often uses measure words when counting actions or events, and 次 is the natural one here.

再 means again or one more time, often for a repeated action that is going to happen after now.

So:

• 再说一次 = say it again
• more literally: say one more time

This is the normal word to use when asking someone to repeat something.

A very common learner question is whether 又 could be used instead. Usually, 又 is for something that has happened again already, while 再 is for doing it again from this point forward. In a request like this, 再 is the correct choice.

In Chinese, objects are often left out when they are obvious from context.

In English, we usually say:

• Please say it again.

In Chinese, if everyone knows what is being talked about, you can simply say:

• 请再说一次。

The listener naturally understands that you mean:

• Please say that again
• Please repeat what you just said

If needed, Chinese can include the object, but it is often unnecessary.

请 makes the sentence more polite. It is like please.

So:

• 再说一次。 = Say it again.
• 请再说一次。 = Please say it again.

It is very commonly used in polite requests.

In this sentence, both 不好意思 and 请 make the request softer and more courteous.

Yes. 不好意思，请再说一次。 is natural, polite, and useful in everyday conversation.

It is appropriate when:

• you did not hear clearly
• you did not understand
• someone spoke too fast
• you want them to repeat what they said

It sounds reasonably polite without being overly formal.

Yes, you can, depending on how polite you want to sound.

For example:

• 请再说一次。
  Polite and direct: Please say it again.

• 再说一次。
  More direct; can sound a bit blunt depending on tone and situation.

• 不好意思，再说一次。
  Still polite, because 不好意思 softens it.

The full sentence 不好意思，请再说一次。 is a very safe, polite version for learners to use.

It is pronounced:

• bù hǎo yì si

A few notes:

• 不 is normally 4th tone
• It changes to bú only before another 4th tone
• Here the next syllable is 好 (hǎo), which is 3rd tone, so it stays bù

So:

• 不好意思 = bùhǎoyìsi

Also, the last syllable 思 in this word is usually light and unstressed: si

So the overall rhythm is something like:

• bù hǎo yì si

说 is the most basic and common verb for to say / to speak.

So:

• 请再说一次 is the standard, natural way to say Please say it again

You may also hear:

• 请再讲一次
• 请再说一遍

But 说 is extremely common and perfectly natural here.

For a beginner, 说 is the safest word to use.

Yes. You will very often hear:

• 请再说一遍。

This is extremely common.

Very roughly:

• 一次 focuses on one occurrence / one time
• 一遍 often emphasizes doing something through once, from beginning to end

In many everyday repetition requests, both are possible:

• 请再说一次。
• 请再说一遍。

Both are natural.
For asking someone to repeat what they said, 一遍 is especially common, but 一次 is still understandable and acceptable.

The main verb is 说, meaning to say / to speak.

The rest of the sentence builds around it:

• 不好意思 = polite opener
• 请 = please
• 再 = again
• 说 = say
• 一次 = one time / once

So the core request is:

• 再说一次 = say it again once

The pattern is:

• 请 + 再 + verb + quantity/complement

So here:

• 请 + 再 + 说 + 一次

This is a very common Chinese structure for asking someone to repeat an action.

Other examples:

• 请再读一次。 = Please read it again.
• 请再写一次。 = Please write it again.
• 请再试一次。 = Please try again.

So this sentence is a good model for many similar requests.