Difference between revisions of "Using "cai" for small numbers"
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| − | * 这个 办公室 <em>才</em> 五个 人。<span class="trans">This office only has five people.</span> | + | * 这个 办公室 <em>才</em> 五个 人。<span class="pinyin">Zhège bàngōngshì <em>cái</em> wǔ gèrén.</span><span class="trans">This office only has five people.</span> |
| − | * 电影院 里<em>才</em> 八 九 个 人。<span class="trans">There are only eight or nine people in the theater.</span> | + | * 电影院 里<em>才</em> 八 九 个 人。<span class="pinyin">Diànyǐngyuàn lǐ <em>cái</em> bājiǔ gèrén.</span><span class="trans">There are only eight or nine people in the theater.</span> |
| − | * 我 <em>才</em>工作 了 一 个 月。<span class="trans">I've only been working for a month.</span> | + | * 我 <em>才</em>工作 了 一 个 月。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>cái</em> gōngzuòle yīgè yuè.</span><span class="trans">I've only been working for a month.</span> |
| − | * 工作 <em>才</em>做 了 一半。<span class="trans">Only half of the work has been done.</span> | + | * 工作 <em>才</em>做 了 一半。<span class="pinyin">Gōngzuò <em>cái</em> zuòle yībàn.</span><span class="trans">Only half of the work has been done.</span> |
| − | * 他 早饭 <em>才</em>吃 了 一 个 蛋糕。<span class="trans">He only ate a cake for breakfast.</span> | + | * 他 早饭 <em>才</em>吃 了 一 个 蛋糕。<span class="pinyin">Tā zǎofàn <em>cái</em> chīle yīgè dàngāo.</span><span class="trans">He only ate a cake for breakfast.</span> |
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Revision as of 10:30, 7 November 2014
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
The character 才 (cái) can be used to emphasize that a number is small, or less than expected.
Structure
Subject + 才 + （verb）+ Number + Measure Word + Noun
Examples
- 这个 办公室 才 五个 人。This office only has five people.
- 电影院 里才 八 九 个 人。There are only eight or nine people in the theater.
- 我 才工作 了 一 个 月。I've only been working for a month.
- 工作 才做 了 一半。Only half of the work has been done.
- 他 早饭 才吃 了 一 个 蛋糕。He only ate a cake for breakfast.
See Also
Sources and Further Readings
Books
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (p. 302) →buy
