Difference between revisions of "Expressing lateness with "cai""
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* 我们 十点 上课，可是 他 十点一刻 <em>才</em> 来。<span class="trans">We have class at 10 o'clock, but he didn't come until 10:15.</span> | * 我们 十点 上课，可是 他 十点一刻 <em>才</em> 来。<span class="trans">We have class at 10 o'clock, but he didn't come until 10:15.</span> | ||
* 昨天 晚上 我的 女儿 一点半 <em>才</em> 回家。<span class="trans">My daughter didn't get home until 1:30 last night.</span> | * 昨天 晚上 我的 女儿 一点半 <em>才</em> 回家。<span class="trans">My daughter didn't get home until 1:30 last night.</span> | ||
| − | * 他 | + | * 他 二十五岁 <em>才</em> 大学毕业。<span class="trans">He didn't graduate from college until he was 25.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 04:15, 22 August 2013
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Keywords
One of the ways to express lateness in Chinese is with 才 (cái).
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 二十五岁 才 大学毕业。He didn't graduate from college until he was 25.
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
