Difference between revisions of "Expressing lateness with "cai""
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| − | In English this might be expressed with "as late as" or "not until". | + | In English this might be expressed with "as late as" or "not until". This form is often used with a time number of some sort, like a specific time, age etc. |
== Examples == | == Examples == | ||
Revision as of 05:02, 20 February 2013
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Keywords
One of the ways to express lateness in Chinese is with 才.
Structure
To express that something happened later than expected, you can use 才.
Subject + Time + 才 + Verb + Object
In English this might be expressed with "as late as" or "not until". This form is often used with a time number of some sort, like a specific time, age etc.
Examples
- 我们 十点 上课，可是 他 十点一刻 才 来。
- 昨天 晚上 我的 女儿 一点半 才 回家。
- 他 二十八 岁 才 拿到 驾驶执照。
Note that verbs following 才 cannot take 了，as the action does not have the sense of being completed. So, in the above situation, it is wrong to say:
- 昨天 晚上 我的 女儿 一点半 才 回家 了 。
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 117-8) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 139) →buy
Websites
- East Asia Student: 就 and 才 in Mandarin: as early as, not until
