Emphasizing a noun with "cai"

This is one of the simpler 才 patterns, providing a way to emphasize that it's THIS one (not THAT one).

Structure

Noun + 才 + Verb Phrase⋯⋯

While this pattern has many uses, one of the most common (and most childish) is as a not-so-witty comeback, in the form of, "no, YOU are!"

Examples with 才是

• 你 才 是 笨蛋 ！Nǐ cái shì bèndàn!YOU're the idiot!

Other Examples

• 在 某些 西方 国家 里 ， 白人 才 是 真正 的 西方人 。 我 不 同意 。 Zài mǒuxiē Xīfāng guójiā lǐ, báirén cái shì zhēnzhèng de Xīfāngrén. Wǒ bù tóngyì.In some western countries, it's only white people that are the "real" westerners. I don't agree.

Sources and further reading

Books

• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 95, 263, 266) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

:Yes

HSK4