Difference between revisions of "Using "cai" for small numbers"

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* 这个 办公室 <em>才</em> 有 五个 人。
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* 这个 办公室 <em>才</em> 有 五个 人。<span class="trans">This office only has five people.</span>
* 电影院 里<em>才</em> 八 九 个 人。
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* 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>
* 我 <em>才</em>工作 了 一 个 月。
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* 我 <em>才</em>工作 了 一 个 月。<span class="trans">I've only been working for a month.</span>
* 工作 <em>才</em>做 了 一半。
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* 工作 <em>才</em>做 了 一半。<span class="trans">Only half of the work has been done.</span>
* 他 早饭 <em>才</em>吃 了 一 个 蛋糕。
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* 他 早饭 <em>才</em>吃 了 一 个 蛋糕。<span class="trans">He only at a cake for breakfast.</span>
  
 
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Revision as of 08:23, 18 June 2013

The character 才 (cái) can be used to emphasize that a number is small, or less than expected.

Structure

Subject + 才 + Number + Measure Word + Noun

Examples

  • 这个 办公室 有 五个 人。This office only has five people.
  • 电影院 里 八 九 个 人。There are only eight or nine people in the theater.
  • 工作 了 一 个 月。I've only been working for a month.
  • 工作 做 了 一半。Only half of the work has been done.
  • 他 早饭 吃 了 一 个 蛋糕。He only at a cake for breakfast.

See Also

Sources and Further Readings

Books