Difference between revisions of "Expressing lateness with "cai""

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{{Grammar Box}} \r\nOne of the ways to express lateness in Chinese is with 才 (cái).\r\n== Structure ==\r\nTo express that something happened later than expected, you can use 才. \r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\nSubject + Time + 才 + Verb + Object\r\n</div>\r\nIn 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.\r\n== Examples ==\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 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>
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{{Grammar Box}}  
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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.  
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
Subject + Time + 才 + Verb + Object
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
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 ==
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* 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>
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* 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>\r\n</div>\r\nNote 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:\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n<ul>
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* 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>
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</div>
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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:
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<div class="liju">
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<ul>
 
<li class="x"> 昨天 晚上 我的 女儿 一点半 <em>才</em> 回家 <strong>了</strong> 。</li>
 
<li class="x"> 昨天 晚上 我的 女儿 一点半 <em>才</em> 回家 <strong>了</strong> 。</li>
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</ul>\r\n</div>\r\n==See also==\r\n* [[Expressing earliness with "jiu"]]
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</ul>
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* [[Comparing "cai" and "jiu"]]\r\n== Sources and further reading ==\r\n=== Books ===\r\n* [[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]
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</div>
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==See also==
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* [[Expressing earliness with "jiu"]]
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* [[Comparing "cai" and "jiu"]]
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== Sources and further reading ==
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 +
=== Books ===
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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]
 
* [[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]
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*[[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]\r\n=== Websites ===\r\n* East Asia Student: [http://eastasiastudent.net/2619/china/mandarin/cmn-grammar/jiu-cai-early-as-not-until/ 就 and 才 in Mandarin: as early as, not until]\r\n[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
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*[[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]
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[[Category: Adverbs]]\r\n{{Basic Grammar|才|B1|才|你 现在 <em>才</em> 来 啊。|grammar point|ASG3WTCJ}}
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=== Websites ===
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* East Asia Student: [http://eastasiastudent.net/2619/china/mandarin/cmn-grammar/jiu-cai-early-as-not-until/ 就 and 才 in Mandarin: as early as, not until]
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[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
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[[Category: Adverbs]]
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{{Basic Grammar|才|B1|才|你 现在 <em>才</em> 来 啊。|grammar point|ASG3WTCJ}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing time and date}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing time and date}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}

Revision as of 09:10, 26 November 2013

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

Websites

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