Difference between revisions of "Comparing "cai" and "jiu""
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Both 才 and 就 are adverbs that have to do with expressing time, and they are both placed in front of the verb. However, they both have a different tone and feel, and they express different lengths of time. | Both 才 and 就 are adverbs that have to do with expressing time, and they are both placed in front of the verb. However, they both have a different tone and feel, and they express different lengths of time. | ||
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== 才 == | == 才 == | ||
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才 expresses that the speaker thinks that the the time that passed since the action takes place was a long time. Sometimes it expresses anxiety, impatience, anger etc. | 才 expresses that the speaker thinks that the the time that passed since the action takes place was a long time. Sometimes it expresses anxiety, impatience, anger etc. | ||
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=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
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就 expresses that the speaker thinks that the time since the action happened is short, and it has a surprise, unexpectedness, or even sometimes regret. | 就 expresses that the speaker thinks that the time since the action happened is short, and it has a surprise, unexpectedness, or even sometimes regret. | ||
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=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
Revision as of 09:39, 21 February 2013
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Both 才 and 就 are adverbs that have to do with expressing time, and they are both placed in front of the verb. However, they both have a different tone and feel, and they express different lengths of time.
Contents
才
才 expresses that the speaker thinks that the the time that passed since the action takes place was a long time. Sometimes it expresses anxiety, impatience, anger etc.
Structure
才 + Verb
Examples
- 我 等 了 两 个 小时 才 买 到 票。
- 他 迟到 了 半 个 小时 才 来。
就
就 expresses that the speaker thinks that the time since the action happened is short, and it has a surprise, unexpectedness, or even sometimes regret.
Structure
就 + Verb
Examples
- 你们 这么 早 就 下班 了？
- 他 两 年 以前 就 去世 了。
就 is used to express earliness
就 indicates that something has occurred earlier than expected
Structure
Subject + Time + 就 + Verb + Object
Examples
- 他 下午 四点 就 吃 晚饭。
Example dialog
- A: 你 怎么 才 来？
- B: 我 八点 就 出门 了，路 上 堵车 我 也 没 办法。
