Expressing "only after" with "cai"

These patterns using 才 are loosely related, and revolve around a meaning of "only when," "only after," "only then," or "not until." They suggest a condition without stating the condition as explicitly as in the pattern 只有……才…….

才 as "Only When" or "Only After"

Structure

⋯⋯，才⋯⋯

⋯⋯ ，才 ⋯⋯

Examples

• 我 花 了 八 千 块 才 买 齐 了 骑行 的 东西。cái .only then
• 小明 花 了 很多 心思 才 设计 出 了 这 张 海报。cái .only then
• 他 用 了 很多 年 才 原谅 了 他的 妈妈。cái .only then
• 那 本 书 我 看 了 两 遍 才 看 懂。cái .only then
• 我 去 了 三 次 北京 才 见 到 了 吴亦凡。cái .only then
• 他 找 了 好 几 个 月 才 找到合适的房子。cái .only then

才 as "Not Until"

This use of 才 is quite similar to the 才 used to express lateness. The two sort of blend together.

Structure

⋯⋯，才⋯⋯

⋯⋯ ，才 ⋯⋯

Examples

Note that rather than following a set pattern, the English translation sentences below make use of a number of different translations. "Not until," "didn't... until," "only then," and "only after" may all be appropriate, depending on the context of the original Chinese.

• 她 做 完 了 功课 才 睡觉。cái .Not until she finished her homework did she go to sleep.
• 他 锁 上 了 门 才 想起来 没有 带 钥匙。cái .He didn't realize he had forgotten to bring his key until after he had locked the door.
• 我 把 牛奶 喝 完 了， 才 发现 牛奶 过期 了。cái .I finished off the milk, and only then did I discover that it was expired.
• 等 妈妈 打 来 了 电话，宝宝 才 不 哭 了。cái .Only after her mom called did the baby stop crying.

Sources and further reading

Books

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

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