Difference between revisions of "Using "cai" for small numbers"
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* 这 家 公司 <em>才</em> 三 个 员工 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè  jiā gōngsī <em>cái</em> sān gè yuángōng. </span><span class="trans">This company only has three employees. </span>
 
* 这 家 公司 <em>才</em> 三 个 员工 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè  jiā gōngsī <em>cái</em> sān gè yuángōng. </span><span class="trans">This company only has three employees. </span>
−
* 电影院 里 <em>才</em> 八 九 个 人。<span class="pinyin">Diànyǐngyuàn lǐ <em>cái</em> bājiǔ gè rén.</span><span class="trans">There are only eight or nine people in the theater. </span>
+
* 我 一 个 月 工资 <em>才</em> 两 千 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ yī gè yuè gōngzī <em>cái</em> liǎng qiān.</span> <span class="trans">My monthly salary is only two thousand RMB.</span>
−
* 我 <em>才</em> 来 上海 不到 两 个 月。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>cái</em> lái Shànghǎi bù dào liǎng gè yuè. </span><span class="trans">I've only been in Shanghai for less than two months. </span>
+
* 她 儿子 <em>才</em> 三 个 月 大 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā érzi <em>cái</em> sān gè yuè dà. </span> <span class="trans">Her son is only two-month-old.</span>
−
* 工作 <em>才</em> 做 了 一半。<span class="pinyin">Gōngzuò <em>cái</em> zuò le yībàn. </span><span class="trans">Only half of the work has been done. </span>
+
* 我 来 上海  <em>才</em> 两 个 月。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ lái Shànghǎi <em>cái</em> liǎng gè yuè. </span><span class="trans">I've only been in Shanghai for two months. </span>
 +
* 你 <em>才</em> 吃 一 个 包子？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>cái</em> chī yī gè bāozi? </span><span class="trans">You only ate one baizi? </span>
 +
* 我们 <em>才</em> 看 完 一 页。<span class="trans">Only half of the work has been done. </span>
 
* 他们 认识 <em>才</em> 三 个 星期 就 结婚 了。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen rènshi <em>cái</em>  sāngè xīngqī jiù jiéhūn le. </span><span class="trans">They only knew each other for three weeks before they got married. </span>
 
* 他们 认识 <em>才</em> 三 个 星期 就 结婚 了。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen rènshi <em>cái</em>  sāngè xīngqī jiù jiéhūn le. </span><span class="trans">They only knew each other for three weeks before they got married. </span>
  

Revision as of 02:10, 23 March 2017

The character 才 (cái) can be used to emphasize that a number is small, or less than expected.

Structure

才 + (Verb) + Number + Measure Word + Noun

In English, we often express this by using "only" or "just" to emphasize that the number is small.

Examples

  • 这 家 公司 才 三 个 员工 。Zhè jiā gōngsī cái sān gè yuángōng. This company only has three employees.
  • 我 一 个 月 工资 才 两 千 。 Wǒ yī gè yuè gōngzī cái liǎng qiān. My monthly salary is only two thousand RMB.
  • 她 儿子 才 三 个 月 大 。 Tā érzi cái sān gè yuè dà. Her son is only two-month-old.
  • 我 来 上海 才 两 个 月。Wǒ lái Shànghǎi cái liǎng gè yuè. I've only been in Shanghai for two months.
  • 你 才 吃 一 个 包子？Nǐ cái chī yī gè bāozi? You only ate one baizi?
  • 我们 才 看 完 一 页。Only half of the work has been done.
  • 他们 认识 才 三 个 星期 就 结婚 了。Tāmen rènshi cái sāngè xīngqī jiù jiéhūn le. They only knew each other for three weeks before they got married.

See Also

Sources and Further Readings

Books

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