How common it is
才 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say cái slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
才用来表示某事只在某个时间点或条件下发生。
cái lái bǎo shí mǒu shì zhǐ zài kě gòu de shí jiàn diǎn huá fā xīn.
才 is used to indicate that something only happens at a specific time or under certain conditions.
Context note
才常用于描述某事只在某个时间点或条件下发生。例如，孩子放学后才开始做作业。
cái cháng yòng yú miáo shù mǒu shì zhǐ zài kě gòu de shí jiàn diǎn huá fā xīn. rú lèi, háizi xià xué hòu cái kāi shǐ zuò zuò wèi.
才 is often used to describe something that only happens at a specific time or under certain conditions. For example, the child starts doing homework after school.
5 examples
他才开始学画画。
tā cái kāi shǐ xué huà huà。
He has just started learning to draw.
妈妈才下班回家。
mā ma cái xià bān huí jiā。
Mom only gets home after work.
我才九岁，不能去上学。
wǒ cái jiǔ suì， bù néng qù shàng xué。
I am only nine years old, so I can't go to school.
他才学会骑自行车。
tā cái xué huì qí zì xíng chē。
He has just learned to ride a bicycle.
我们才开始学习中文。
wǒ men cái kāi shǐ xué xí zhōng wén。
We have only started learning Chinese.
5 mini stories
小明才九岁，他还没有学会骑自行车。
xiǎo míng cái jiǔ suì， tā hái méi yǒu xué huì qí zì xíng chē。
Xiaoming is only nine years old, he has not yet learned to ride a bicycle.
妈妈说她下班后才开始做饭。
mā ma shuō tā xià bān hòu cái kāi shǐ zuò fàn。
Mom said she starts cooking after work.
小红才学会画画，她的画很可爱。
xiǎo hóng cái xué huì huà huà， tā de huà hěn kě ài。
Xiaohong has just learned to draw, her drawings are very cute.
我们才开始学习中文，所以还有很多要学。
wǒ men cái kāi shǐ xué xí zhōng wén， suǒ yǐ hái yǒu hěn duō yào xué。
We have only started learning Chinese, so there is still a lot to learn.
他才学会游泳，但他已经游得很好了。
tā cái xué huì yóu yǒng， dàn tā yǐ jīng yóu dé hěn hǎo le。
He has just learned to swim, but he already swims very well.