Comparing "cai" and "jiu"
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
Both 才 (cái) and 就 (jiù) are adverbs that have to do with expressing time, and they are both placed in front of the verb. However, they have opposite effects on the tone of the sentence, with 才 (cái) implying a=the speaker's sense of lateness, and 就 (jiù) imparting a sense of earliness.
Emphasis with 才
Expressing lateness with "cai"
才 indicates that the speaker feels that the events discussed happened later than expected. Sometimes it also expresses anxiety, impatience, anger, or other related emotions.
Structure
Subj. ＋ Time ＋ 才 + Verb
Examples
- 我 等 了 两 个 小时 才 买到 票。 I had waited two hours before buying the ticket.
- 老板 十一 点 才 到 办公室。The boss didn't come to the office until 11 o'clock.
- 这么 多 工作， 最少 要 花 两 个 月 才 能 做完。There's so much work. I need at least two months to finish it all.
Expressing small quantity with "cai"
才 can also mean "only" in the sense of a small quantity.
Structure
才 (＋Verb) ＋ Measure Word + Noun
Examples
- 他 才 才 十 岁，不 能 让 他 喝酒！He's only ten. You can't let him drink!
- 我们 有 这么 多 人，你 才 点 了 三 个 菜。 We have so many people and you only ordered three dishes.
- 我 买 了 这么 多 东西，才 花 了 五百 块 。 I bought so many things，
and it only cost me 500 RMB.
Emphasis with 就
就 is used to express earliness
就 indicates that something has occurred earlier than the speaker expected. There may be an accompanying feeling of surprise or amazement.
Structure
Subj. + Time + 就 + Verb + Obj.＋了
Examples
- 他 下午 四点 就 吃 晚饭 了。He ate dinner at four in the afternoon.
- 她 十九 岁 就 结婚 了。She got married when she was 19.
- 我 八点 就 出门 了，路 上 堵车，我 迟到 了 十 分钟。I left at eight, but there was a traffic jam. I was ten minutes late.
- 你们 这么 早 就 下班 了？You guys leaving work so early?
- 你 妹妹 十五岁就 上 大学 了？Your younger sister started college when she was only fifteen?
就 is used to express small quantity
就 can be used to mean "only," in the sense of a small quantity.
Structure
Subj. + 就 + (＋Verb) ＋ Measure Word ＋ Noun
Examples
- 我们 有 这么 多 人，你 就 点 了 三 个 菜？.
- 你们 每天 就 睡 四 个 小时？ Do you only sleep four hours every day?
- 那时候 中国人 都 生 四 五 个 孩子，他们 家 就 生 一 个？She got married when she was 19.
- 你 这么 大 一个 男人，就 吃 这么 一 小 碗饭？！.
- 每 个 人 都 写 了 五页 纸，你 就 写 了 一 页 纸！.
See also
- Expressing lateness with "cai"
- Expressing earliness with "jiu"
- "cai" used for small numbers
- "Just" with "jiu"
- Emphasis with "jiu"
- Expressing "as one likes" with "jiu"
- Expressing indifference with "jiu"
- Limiting scope with "jiu"
