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 人 。Zhè jiā gōngsī cái sān gè yuángōng.This company only has three employees.
• 这 个 班 才 两 个 学生 。 Zhège bān cái liǎng gè xuéshēng.This class only has two students.
• 你 男朋友 工资 才 两 千 ？Nǐ nánpéngyou gōngzī cái liǎng qiān?Your boyfriend's salary is only two thousand RMB?
• 你 才 捐 十块 ？Nǐ cái juān shí kuài? You only donated ten kuai?
• 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 才 吃 一 个 ，可以 再 吃 一 个 吗 ？Wǒ cái chī yī gè, kěyǐ zài chī yī gè ma?I only ate one. Can I have one more?
• 这 顿 饭 才 花 了 二十 块 。Zhè dùn fàn cái huā le èrshí kuài.This meal only cost twenty kuai.
• 你 才 一百 斤 ，还说 要 减肥 ？One "jin" = 500gNǐ cái yī bǎi jīn, hái shuō yào jiǎnféi?You're only 100 jin and you're talking about losing weight?
• 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