fùcí: cái
Adverb 才 (副词：才)
才 shows “not until,” “only if,” or “only this little.” It often carries a feeling that something is late, difficult, or less than expected.
核心例句
我七点就到了，他九点才来；这家店才两个服务员，太忙了。
Wǒ qī diǎn jiù dào le, tā jiǔ diǎn cái lái; zhè jiā diàn cái liǎng ge fúwùyuán, tài máng le.
I arrived as early as seven, but he didn’t come until nine. This shop has only two servers, so it’s too busy.
HSK 2
HSK 2
2
2 个结构
10
10 个练习
课程摘要
才 shows “not until,” “only if,” or “only this little.” It often carries a feeling that something is late, difficult, or less than expected.
1. WHAT IT MEANS: 才 (cái) has three closely related HSK2 uses: (a) later than expected — the action happens at a time the speaker considers too late; (b) only under a strict condition — something happens only if a certain requirement is met; (c) only a small/insufficient amount — expressing that a quantity is surprisingly small.
2. USAGE 1 — LATER THAN EXPECTED: 才 comes directly before the verb. A time word appears between the subject and 才. The speaker's tone often implies dissatisfaction or surprise. Example: 他十点才起床 (He didn't get up until 10 — much later than the speaker expected or approves of); 我学了两年汉语才能说一点点 (After two years of study, I can only say a tiny bit — progress is slower than hoped).
3. USAGE 2 — ONLY UNDER A STRICT CONDITION (只有/除非...才...): 才 appears in the result clause after 只有 (only if) or 除非 (unless). Structure: 只有 + condition + 才 + result. Example: 只有你来，我才去 (Only if you come will I go). This is stronger than 如果...就...; it implies the condition is essential, not just hypothetical.
4. USAGE 3 — ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT: 才 before a number phrase expresses that the amount is surprisingly small. Example: 这家店才两个服务员 (This restaurant has only two waiters — far too few). Compare: 就有两个 would mean "as many as two" (positive surprise); 才有两个 means "only two" (negative surprise).
5. PLACEMENT: 才 always comes BEFORE the main verb. It follows: subject > time/condition > 才 > verb. Never put 才 after the verb or before the subject. Note: sentences with 才 expressing lateness do not use 了 at the end (unlike 就 sentences, which often do).
6. 才 vs 就 — THE CRITICAL CONTRAST: 就 = earlier/faster than expected → positive feeling (impressed, relieved) 才 = later/slower than expected → negative feeling (annoyed, disappointed) Example: 他七点就睡了 (He went to sleep as early as 7 — wow!) vs 他七点才睡 (He didn't sleep until 7 — he should have slept earlier!) The same time, the same verb, but completely opposite emotional tones.
7. IMPORTANT RULE: 才 sentences expressing lateness generally do not take 了 at the end. Compare: 他八点就来了 (correct, with 了) vs 他八点才来 (correct, NO 了). Adding 了 to a 才-lateness sentence is one of the most common learner errors.
8. CANnot BE NEGATED DIRECTLY: You cannot say 不才 or 没才. To negate, restructure the sentence. For example, instead of 他不才来, say 他很早就来了 (He came very early).
语法句型
Subject + (time word / condition) + 才 + Verb — not until / as late as
Use this pattern to say that something didn't happen until a certain time, or happened later than the speaker expected. The speaker's tone usually implies dissatisfaction, surprise, or impatience. Note: do not add 了 at the end of 才-lateness sentences.
他昨天晚上十二点才睡觉，今天很累。
Tā zuótiān wǎnshang shí'èr diǎn cái shuìjiào, jīntiān hěn lèi.
He didn't go to sleep until midnight last night, so he's very tired today.
这个作业很难，我做了三个小时才完成。
Zhège zuòyè hěn nán, wǒ zuò le sān gè xiǎoshí cái wánchéng.
This homework was really hard — it took me three hours before I finally finished it.
飞机晚点了，我们等到下午三点才登机。
Fēijī wǎndiǎn le, wǒmen děng dào xiàwǔ sān diǎn cái dēng jī.
The flight was delayed — we waited until three in the afternoon before we could finally board.
语法句型
只有 + condition + 才 + result — only if...then...
Use this pattern to express that the result can ONLY happen if the condition is strictly met. 才 in the result clause emphasizes that nothing else will do — the condition is non-negotiable. This is stronger than 如果...就... because it rules out all alternatives.
只有每天练习，才能把汉语说好。
Zhǐyǒu měitiān liànxí, cái néng bǎ Hànyǔ shuō hǎo.
Only by practicing every day can you speak Chinese well.
只有你亲自来，我才相信这件事是真的。
Zhǐyǒu nǐ qīnzì lái, wǒ cái xiāngxìn zhè jiàn shì shì zhēn de.
Only if you come in person will I believe this is real.
只有多喝水、多休息，感冒才会好得快。
Zhǐyǒu duō hē shuǐ, duō xiūxi, gǎnmào cái huì hǎo de kuài.
Only by drinking more water and getting more rest will a cold get better quickly.
填写空白：
