Difference between revisions of "Using "cai" for small numbers"
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The character 才 (cái) can be used to emphasize that a number is small, or less than expected. | The character 才 (cái) can be used to emphasize that a number is small, or less than expected. | ||
| − | == Used as | + | == Used as a Verb == |
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
| + | |||
| + | In this case, 才 means "is only" or "only have." | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
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*你 的 工资 <em>才</em> 两 千 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de gōngzī <em>cái</em> liǎng qiān?</span><span class="trans">Your salary is only two thousand RMB?</span> | *你 的 工资 <em>才</em> 两 千 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de gōngzī <em>cái</em> liǎng qiān?</span><span class="trans">Your salary is only two thousand RMB?</span> | ||
*这 顿 饭 <em>才</em> 二十 块 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè dùn fàn <em>cái</em> èrshí kuài.</span><span class="trans">This meal only cost twenty kuai.</span> | *这 顿 饭 <em>才</em> 二十 块 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè dùn fàn <em>cái</em> èrshí kuài.</span><span class="trans">This meal only cost twenty kuai.</span> | ||
| − | *你 <em>才</em> 一百 斤 ，还 要 减肥 ？<span class="expl">One "jin" = 500g</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>cái</em> yī bǎi jīn, hái yào jiǎnféi?</span><span class="trans">You're only 100 jin and you | + | *你 <em>才</em> 一百 斤 ，还 要 减肥 ？<span class="expl">One "jin" = 500g</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>cái</em> yī bǎi jīn, hái yào jiǎnféi?</span><span class="trans">You're only 100 jin and you still want to lose some weight?</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | == Used | + | == Used with a Verb == |
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
Revision as of 02:37, 4 January 2018
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Keywords
The character 才 (cái) can be used to emphasize that a number is small, or less than expected.
Contents
Used as a Verb
Structure
In this case, 才 means "is only" or "only have."
才 + 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 ？You're only twenty?
- 这 个 班 才 两 个 学生 。 This class only has two students.
- 你 的 工资 才 两 千 ？Your salary is only two thousand RMB?
- 这 顿 饭 才 二十 块 。This meal only cost twenty kuai.
- 你 才 一百 斤 ，还 要 减肥 ？One "jin" = 500gYou're only 100 jin and you still want to lose some weight?
Used with a Verb
Structure
才 + Verb + Number (+ Measure Word) + Noun
Examples
- 她 才 来 两 个 月 。She's only been in Shanghai for two months.
- 这 家 店 关门 了 ？可是 它 才 开业 一 个 星期 。This shop is out of business? But it's only been one week since it opened.
- 已经 两天 了 ，你 才 看完 一 页 ？It's been two days and you only finished reading one page?
- 我们 才 玩 一会儿 ，再 玩 一会儿 吧 ？We only played for a short while. Can we play a little bit longer?
- 他们 结婚 了 ？他们 才 认识 三 个 月 ！They got married? They've only knew each other for three months!
