Using "cai" for small numbers

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

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 ？Nǐ cái èrshí suì?You're only twenty?
• 这 个 班 才 两 个 学生 。 Zhège bān cái liǎng gè xuéshēng.This class only has two students.
• 你 的 工资 才 两 千 ？Probably RMB, per monthNǐ de gōngzī cái liǎng qiān?Your salary is only two thousand?
• 这 顿 饭 才 二十 块 ，太 便宜 了 ！Zhè dùn fàn cái èrshí kuài. Tài piányi le!This meal only cost twenty kuai. It's too cheap!
• 你 才 一百 斤 ，还 要 减肥 ？One "jin" = 500gNǐ cái yī bǎi jīn, hái yào jiǎnféi?You're only 100 jin and you still want to lose some weight?

Used with a Verb

Structure

才 + Verb + Number + Measure Word + Noun

In this pattern, adding a 了 after the verb is optional.

Examples

• 她 才 来 了 两 个 月 。Tā cái lái le liǎng gè yuè.She's been here for only two months.
• 这 家 店 关门 了 ？可是 它 才 开业 一 个 星期 。Zhè jiā diàn guānmén le? Kěshì tā cái kāiyè yī gè xīngqī.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 ？Yǐjīng liǎng tiān le, nǐ cái kàn wán yī yè?It's been two days and you only finished reading one page?
• 我们 才 玩 了 一会儿 ，再 玩 一会儿 吧 ？Wǒmen cái wán le yīhuìr, zài wán yīhuìr ba?We've 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 ！Tāmen jiéhūn le? Tāmen cái rènshi sān gè yuè!They got married? They've only known each other for three months!

See also

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

Sources and Further Readings

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 302) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy