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

  • 二十 岁 ?cái èrshí suì.You're only twenty?
  • 这 家 公司 三 个 人 。Zhè jiā gōngsī cái sān gè yuángōng.This company only has three employees.
  • 这 个 班 两 个 学生 。 Zhège bān cái liǎng gè xuéshēng.This class only has two students.
  • 你 男朋友 工资 两 千 ?Nǐ nánpéngyou gōngzī cái liǎng qiān?Your boyfriend's salary is only two thousand RMB?
  • 捐 十块 ?cái juān shí kuài? You only donated ten kuai?
  • 来 上海 两 个 月 。cái lái Shànghǎi liǎng gè yuè.She's only been in Shanghai for two months.
  • 这 顿 饭 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?
  • 吃 一 个 ,可以 再 吃 一 个 吗 ?cái chī yī gè, kěyǐ zài chī yī gè ma?I only ate one. Can I have one more?
  • 他们 认识 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

Sources and Further Readings

Books