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Expressing lateness with 才 ("cai2")

才 cái

Adverb
HSK 3

Structure

Subj. + Time + 才 + Verb

Definition

才表示动作发生得比预期晚或慢。

才 indicates that an action happens later or slower than expected.

Usage

才放在时间词语后面，强调动作发生的时间晚。常用于表达主观认为时间晚。

才 is placed after a time expression to emphasize that the action occurs late. It is often used to express that the time is considered late subjectively.

Examples

  • 1 他十点才来上班。 (He didn't come to work until 10 o'clock.)
  • 2 我昨天半夜两点才睡。 (I didn't sleep until 2 a.m. last night.)
  • 3 她三十岁才结婚。 (She didn't get married until she was 30.)
  • 4 火车晚点了，下午三点才到。 (The train was delayed and didn't arrive until 3 p.m.)
  • 5 我们等了两个小时，他才出现。 (We waited for two hours before he showed up.)

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