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Level
[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)
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Similar to
- [Expressing "small quantity" with "jiu"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22small_quantity%22_with_%22jiu%22) (B1) - [Expressing lateness with "cai"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_lateness_with_%22cai%22) (B1)
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Used for
[Expressing quantity](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_quantity), [Emphasizing](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Emphasizing)
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Keywords
[才](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E6%89%8D)
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The character 才 (cái) can be used to emphasize that a number is small, or less than expected.
Contents --------  [hide]([# "wikilink")\] 
- [1 Used as a Verb](#Used_as_a_Verb "wikilink") - [1.1 Structure](#Structure "wikilink") - [1.2 Examples](#Examples "wikilink") - [2 Used with a Verb](#Used_with_a_Verb "wikilink") - [2.1 Structure](#Structure_2 "wikilink") - [2.2 Examples](#Examples_2 "wikilink") - [3 See also](#See_also "wikilink") - [4 Sources and Further Readings](#Sources_and_Further_Readings "wikilink") - [4.1 Books](#Books "wikilink")
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 ------------------------------------------------------- - ["Just" with "jiu"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22Just%22_with_%22jiu%22) - [Comparing "cai" and "jiu"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Comparing_%22cai%22_and_%22jiu%22) - [Expressing lateness with "cai"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_lateness_with_%22cai%22) Sources and Further Readings ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Books - [Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_1) (pp. 302) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2fdV2l3)
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