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

Structure

In English, we often express this by using "only" or "just" to emphasize that the number is small.

Examples

你才二十岁？ Nǐ cái èrshí suì.
You're only twenty?
这家公司才三个人。 Zhè jiā gōngsī cái sān gè rén.
This company only has three employees.
这个班才两个学生。 Zhège bān cái liǎng gè xuéshēng.
This class only has two students.
你男朋友工资才两千？ Nǐ nánpéngyou gōngzī cái liǎng qiān?
Your boyfriend's salary is only two thousand RMB?
你才捐十块？ Nǐ cái juān shí kuài? You only donated ten kuai?
她才来上海两个月。 Tā cái lái Shànghǎi liǎng gè yuè.
She's only been in Shanghai for two months.
这顿饭才花了二十块。Zhè dùn fàn cái huā le èrshí kuài.
This meal only cost twenty kuai.
你才一百斤，还说要减肥？ One "jin" = 500g Nǐ cái yī bǎi jīn, hái shuō yào jiǎnféi?
You're only 100 jin and you're talking about losing weight?
我才吃一个，可以再吃一个吗？ Wǒ cái chī yī gè, kěyǐ zài chī yī gè ma?
I only ate one. Can I have one more?
他们认识才三个星期就结婚了。 Tāmen rènshi cái sān gè xīngqī jiù jiéhūn le.
They only knew each other for three weeks before they got married.

Contents

Structure