Difference between revisions of "Expressing lateness with "cai""
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* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 117-8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy] | * [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 117-8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy] | ||
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 139) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy] | * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 139) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy] | ||
| + | *[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册）]] (p. 239)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy] | ||
=== Websites === | === Websites === | ||
Revision as of 06:08, 8 July 2013
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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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。We have class at 10 o'clock, but he didn't come until 10:15.
- 昨天 晚上 我的 女儿 一点半 才 回家。My daughter didn't get home until 1:30 last night.
- 他 二十八 岁 才 拿到 驾驶执照。He didn't get his driver's license until he was 28.
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
- 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册） (p. 239)→buy
Websites
- East Asia Student: 就 and 才 in Mandarin: as early as, not until
