Using "cai" for small numbers

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

• 你 才 二十 岁？Nǐ cái èrshí suì. You're only twenty?
• 这 家 公司 才 三 个 员工 。Zhè jiā gōngsī cái sān gè yuángōng. This company only has three employees.
• 这 个 班 才 两 个 学生 。 Zhè gè bān cái liǎng gè xuéshēng.This class only has two students.
• 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.
• 你 才 吃 一 个 包子？Nǐ cái chī yī gè bāozi? You only ate one baizi?
• 她 才 来 上海 两 个 月。Tā cái lái Shànghǎi liǎng gè yuè. She's only been in Shanghai for two months.
• 我们 才 看 完 一 页。Only half of the work has been done.
• 这 顿 饭 才 花 了 二十 块 。Zhè dùn fàn cái huā le èrshí kuài. This meal only cost twenty kuai.
• 他们 认识 才 三 个 星期 就 结婚 了。Tāmen rènshi cái sān gè xīngqī jiù jiéhūn le. They only knew each other for three weeks before they got married.

See Also

• "Just" with "jiu"
• Comparing "cai" and "jiu"
• Expressing lateness with "cai"

Sources and Further Readings

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (p. 302) →buy