The Chinese word 才 (cái) is incredibly versatile and can be quite tricky for learners because its meaning heavily depends on context, often conveying nuances of lateness, rarity, difficulty, or emphasis. It's primarily used as an adverb.
1. Indicating Lateness or Slowness ("only now," "not until")
This is one of the most common uses of 才. It implies that an action or event happened later than expected or desired.
Structure: [Time/Condition] + 才 + [Verb Phrase]
Examples:
他八点才起床。 (Tā bā diǎn cái qǐchuáng.)
He woke up only at 8 o'clock. (Implies waking up late)
电影十点才开始。 (Diànyǐng shí diǎn cái kāishǐ.)
The movie didn't start until 10 o'clock. (Implies a late start)
等了两个小时,他才来。 (Děng le liǎng ge xiǎoshí, tā cái lái.)
After waiting for two hours, he finally came. (Emphasizes the long wait before his arrival)
你才发现啊? (Nǐ cái fāxiàn a?)
You only just noticed? (Implies surprise at their belated discovery)
2. Indicating Small Quantity, Short Duration, or Low Degree ("only," "just")
When used before numbers, quantities, or amounts, 才 emphasizes that the amount is surprisingly small or limited.
Structure: 才 + [Quantity/Amount]
Examples:
他才五岁。 (Tā cái wǔ suì.)
He's only five years old. (Emphasizes his young age)
我才有一百块钱。 (Wǒ cái yǒu yìbǎi kuài qián.)
I only have 100 yuan. (Emphasizes the small amount)
你才来两天。 (Nǐ cái lái liǎng tiān.)
You've only been here for two days. (Emphasizes the short duration)
这件衣服才五十块。 (Zhè jiàn yīfu cái wǔshí kuài.)
This piece of clothing is only fifty yuan. (Emphasizes it being cheap)
3. Emphasizing a Condition or Prerequisite ("only if/when," "not until...can")
才 can be used to emphasize that an action can only happen if a certain condition is met, implying difficulty or necessity. It often appears with structures like 只有...才 (zhǐyǒu...cái - only if/when...then) or 除非...才 (chúfēi...cái - unless...then).
Structure: [Condition] + 才 + [Result]
Examples:
你努力学习,才能考好。 (Nǐ nǔlì xuéxí, cái néng kǎo hǎo.)
You only by studying hard can you do well on the exam. (Implies studying hard is the necessary condition)
只有多练习,才会进步。 (Zhǐyǒu duō liànxí, cái huì jìnbù.)
Only if you practice more, then you will improve.
等雨停了,我们才走。 (Děng yǔ tíng le, wǒmen cái zǒu.)
We won't leave until the rain stops. (The stopping of rain is the prerequisite)
4. Expressing Emphasis or Correction ("actually," "it is...that")
In some contexts, 才 can be used to correct a misunderstanding or to emphasize a fact, often with a slightly stronger or more assertive tone.
Examples:
不是我,是她才知道。 (Bù shì wǒ, shì tā cái zhīdào.)
It's not me, it's actually her who knows. (Correcting who has the knowledge)
我才没那么想呢! (Wǒ cái méi nàme xiǎng ne!)
I definitely didn't think that way! (Strong denial or emphasis)
这才是真正的中国菜。 (Zhè cái shì zhēnzhèng de Zhōngguó cài.)
This is the real Chinese cuisine. (Emphasizing authenticity, implying others might not be)
5. In Rhetorical Questions or Exclamations
才 can appear in questions or exclamations to add emphasis, often implying a rhetorical challenge or strong feeling.
Examples:
这哪儿是小事?这才是大事! (Zhè nǎr shì xiǎoshì? Zhè cái shì dàshì!)
How is this a small matter? This is a big matter! (Rhetorical question followed by emphasis)
他才不会听你的呢! (Tā cái bú huì tīng nǐ de ne!)
He definitely won't listen to you! (Strong assertion/prediction)
Key Differences with "就 (jiù)"
It's common for learners to confuse 才 (cái) with 就 (jiù), as both relate to time and conditions. Here's a crucial distinction:
才 (cái): Implies lateness, slowness, difficulty, or a small quantity/degree compared to expectation.
他八点才起床。 (He woke up only at 8 o'clock - late)
就 (jiù): Implies earliness, quickness, ease, or a large quantity/degree compared to expectation.
他六点就起床了。 (He woke up as early as 6 o'clock - early)
Mastering 才 requires a good sense of context and the implied contrast with expectations. Listen to how native speakers use it, and try to incorporate it into your own sentences to grasp its nuances.