How to use 才
才 + Number + Measure Word + Noun
才 can evaluate an amount as small or below an expectation. It may stand directly before a number phrase expressing an age, price, count, or similar quantity. The same numerical fact could be presented neutrally elsewhere; 才 adds the speaker's view that the amount is limited in the situation being discussed.
Before a verb phrase, 才 can emphasize a small quantity or short duration associated with the action. The measured amount then follows within that phrase. This use differs from 才 evaluating the timing of an event as late. A sentence may involve both time and amount, so ask whether the speaker stresses when something happened or how little has happened so far.
Examples with pinyin and English
你才二十岁？
You're only twenty?
这个班才两个学生。
This class only has two students.
你的工资才两千？
Your salary is only two thousand?
这顿饭才二十块，太便宜了！
This meal only cost twenty kuai. It's too cheap!
What to remember
- Use 才 to evaluate an amount as small.
- The quantity can follow a verb phrase.
- Separate small amount from late occurrence.
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Source and editorial notes
Explanation rewritten for Laowai. Examples are adapted from the Laowai English grammar curriculum, with editorial corrections where needed. The original curriculum credits AllSet Learning’s Chinese Grammar Wiki as used with permission. Read the retained source credits.
Difficulty labels describe the level of the explanation; they are not official HSK placement. Send a correction with this page’s URL.