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[What links
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changes](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:RecentChangesLinked/Using_%22cai%22_for_small_numbers)
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[](http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1286538933)
[](# "wikilink")
Using "cai" for small numbers
=============================
[](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/ASGYW5RS)
-
Level
[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)
-
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)
-
Used for
[Expressing
quantity](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_quantity),
[Emphasizing](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Emphasizing)
-
Keywords
[才](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E6%89%8D)
[{width="300"
height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-Cai.jpg)
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")
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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