才

• 拼音: cái
• 汉字拆解: 才 — originally a pictograph of a budding sprout; extended to mean talent, then 'only just' as an adverb

含义

Only then; just now; only. An adverb indicating something happened later than expected or in a limited amount.

Used to emphasise that an action happened late, with difficulty, or in a small quantity. Contrasts with 就, which implies something happened sooner than expected. One of the most important adverbs in everyday Mandarin.

例句

1. 他九点才起床，太晚了。
2. 我等了半个小时他才来。
3. 这件衣服才五十块钱。

用法指南

语境: expressing lateness, emphasis on small quantity, everyday speech

语气: emphatic

正确说法

• 我昨天十二点才睡觉。(I didn't go to sleep until midnight last night.)
• 她学了两年才学会。(It took her two years to learn it.)

错误说法

• Do not confuse 才 with 就 — 才 implies later or less than expected, while 就 implies sooner or easier. 他八点才来 (He didn't come until 8) vs 他八点就来了 (He came as early as 8).

起源与历史

Originally meant 'talent' or 'ability' in Classical Chinese. The adverbial usage meaning 'only then' developed through grammaticalisation over centuries.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal