Comparing "cai" and "jiu" (Redirected from ASGLOS9C) Level B2 Similar to Expressing earliness with "jiu" (B1) Expressing lateness with "cai" (B1) Used for Expressing time and date, Expressing attitude, Sequencing events in time Keywords 才, 就 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. Contents 1 Emphasis with 才 1.1 Expressing Lateness with "cai" 1.1.1 Structure 1.1.2 Examples 1.2 Expressing Small Quantity with "cai" 1.2.1 Structure 1.2.2 Examples 1.3 Expressing earliness with "cai" 1.3.1 Structure 1.3.2 Examples 2 Emphasis with 就 2.1 Used to Express Earliness 2.1.1 Structure 2.1.2 Examples 2.2 Used to Express Small Quantity 2.2.1 Structure 2.2.2 Examples 3 See also 4 Sources and further reading 4.1 Books 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 Word + 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. 这个项目最少要花两个月才能做完。 It's going to take at least two months to complete this project. Expressing Small Quantity with "cai" 才 can also mean "only" in the sense of a small quantity. Structure 才 ( + Verb) + Measure Word + Noun Examples 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. Expressing earliness with "cai" "才"表示动作在说话前不久发生，有" 刚、刚刚"的意思。常常跟"就"连用，形容某事发生得很快。 Structure Subj. + 才 + Verb (现在) + 才 + Time Examples 你才来就要走？不多坐一会儿？ You just came and you‘re not going to stay a little longer? 电影才开始你就不想看了？ The movie just started and you don't want to see it now? 他才毕业就找到了这么好的工作？ How come he found such a good job while he just graduated from college? 现在才九点，再玩一会儿。 It's only nine o'clock. Stay and hang out a little bit more. 才六点，起那么早干吗？ It's only six. Why did you get up so early? Emphasis with 就 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? 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" Sources and further reading Books Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (pp. 107) [ →buy]