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[[#|[[File:Using%20%22cai%22%20for%20small%20numbers%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/cog.png]]]] = Using "cai" for small numbers =
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  • Level
    [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points B1]
  • Similar to
    • [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22small_quantity%22_with_%22jiu%22 Expressing "small quantity" with "jiu"] (B1)
    • [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_lateness_with_%22cai%22 Expressing lateness with "cai"] (B1)
  • Used for
    [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_quantity Expressing quantity], [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Emphasizing Emphasizing]
  • Keywords
    [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E6%89%8D 才]
[https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-Cai.jpg [[File:Using%20%22cai%22%20for%20small%20numbers%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/300px-Chinese-grammar-wiki-Cai.jpg|300x300px|Chinese-grammar-wiki-Cai.jpg]]]
The character 才 (cái) can be used to emphasize that a number is small, or less than expected.
== Contents ==  [[[#|hide]]] 
* [[#Used_as_a_Verb|1 Used as a Verb]] ** [[#Structure|1.1 Structure]] ** [[#Examples|1.2 Examples]] * [[#Used_with_a_Verb|2 Used with a Verb]] ** [[#Structure_2|2.1 Structure]] ** [[#Examples_2|2.2 Examples]] * [[#See_also|3 See also]] * [[#Sources_and_Further_Readings|4 Sources and Further Readings]] ** [[#Books|4.1 Books]]
== Used as a Verb == === Structure === In this case, 才 means "is only" or "only have."
才 + Number + [Measure Word] + Noun
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 个 班 ''才'' 两 个 学生 。 Zhège bān ''cái'' liǎng gè xuéshēng.This class only has two students. * 你 的 工资 ''才'' 两 千 ？Nǐ de gōngzī ''cái'' liǎng qiān?Your salary is only two thousand RMB? * 这 顿 饭 ''才'' 二十 块 ，太 便宜 了 ！Zhè dùn fàn ''cái'' èrshí kuài. Tài piányi le!This meal only cost twenty kuai. It's too cheap! * 你 ''才'' 一百 斤 ，还 要 减肥 ？One "jin" = 500gNǐ ''cái'' yī bǎi jīn, hái yào jiǎnféi?You're only 100 jin and you still want to lose some weight?
== Used with a Verb == === Structure ===
才 + Verb + Number + Measure Word + Noun
In this pattern, adding a 了 after the verb is optional. === Examples ===
* 她 ''才'' 来 了 两 个 月 。Tā ''cái'' lái le liǎng gè yuè.She's been here for only two months. * 这 家 店 关门 了 ？可是 它 ''才'' 开业 一 个 星期 。Zhè jiā diàn guānmén le? Kěshì tā ''cái'' kāiyè yī gè xīngqī.This shop is out of business? But it's only been one week since it opened. * 已经 两天 了 ，你 ''才'' 看完 一 页 ？Yǐjīng liǎngtiān le, nǐ ''cái'' kàn wán yī yè?It's been two days and you only finished reading one page? * 我们 ''才'' 玩 了 一会儿 ，再 玩 一会儿 吧 ？Wǒmen ''cái'' wán le yīhuìr, zài wán yīhuìr ba?We've only played for a short while. Can we play a little bit longer? * 他们 结婚 了 ？他们 ''才'' 认识 三 个 月 ！Tāmen jiéhūn le? Tāmen ''cái'' rènshi sān gè yuè!They got married? They've only knew each other for three months!
== See also == * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22Just%22_with_%22jiu%22 "Just" with "jiu"] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Comparing_%22cai%22_and_%22jiu%22 Comparing "cai" and "jiu"] * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_lateness_with_%22cai%22 Expressing lateness with "cai"] == Sources and Further Readings == === Books === * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_1 Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1] (pp. 302) [http://amzn.to/2fdV2l3 →buy]
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