才 + Number (only — a small amount) · 才 + 数字
A fare seems surprisingly small
- You expected a ticket to cost more than twenty yuan.
- 这张票才二十块。 — 才 presents the price as only twenty yuan against that expectation.
A fare seems surprisingly small
- You expected a ticket to cost more than twenty yuan.
- this这张票only then / not until才二十块。 — only then / not until才 presents the price as only twenty yuan against that expectation.
You expected a ticket to cost more than twenty yuan. What does 这张票才二十块。 communicate?
才 presents the price as only twenty yuan against that expectation. The price is a small amount from the speaker's viewpoint. 二十块才够 instead means only twenty yuan is sufficient; word position and predicate change the scope.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is 才 + Number (only — a small amount). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
you你only才twenty二十岁？
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is only then / not until才 + Number (only — a small amount). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
you你only才twenty二十岁？
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: Complete: 这家店 ____ 开业一个星期。(This shop has only been open a week.)
才 + small amount = “only”: 才开业一个星期. · 才 + 小数量 = “只”:才开业一个星期。
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, 这张票才二十块。: 才 presents the price as only twenty yuan against that expectation.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, this这张票only then / not until才二十块。: only then / not until才 presents the price as only twenty yuan against that expectation.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
你才二十岁? means … · 你才二十岁? 的意思是 ……
Before a number, 才 = “only that much” (surprise it's so small). · 数字前,才 = “只有这么点”(惊讶这么少)。
Build: “They've only known each other three months!” · 排一排:“他们才认识三个月!”
才 + amount: 他们 + 才 + 认识 + 三个月. · 才 + 数量:他们 + 才 + 认识 + 三个月。
Know the boundary
- The price is a small amount from the speaker's viewpoint.
- 二十块才够 instead means only twenty yuan is sufficient; word position and predicate change the scope.
Know the boundary
- The price is a small amount from the speaker's viewpoint.
- 二十块only then / not until才enough (sufficient)够 instead means only twenty yuan is sufficient; word position and predicate change the scope.
Before a number, 才 stresses that the amount is large. · 数字前,才 强调数量大。
It stresses the amount is small · 小的 / less than expected: 才二十岁. · 它强调数量小 / 比预期少:才二十岁。
才二十块 says that the ticket became available at twenty o'clock.
The price is a small amount from the speaker's viewpoint. 二十块才够 instead means only twenty yuan is sufficient; word position and predicate change the scope. 才 presents the price as only twenty yuan against that expectation.
Use the distinction
- 才 presents the price as only twenty yuan against that expectation.
- The price is a small amount from the speaker's viewpoint. 二十块才够 instead means only twenty yuan is sufficient; word position and predicate change the scope.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Adverbs.
Use the distinction
- only then / not until才 presents the price as only twenty yuan against that expectation.
- The price is a small amount from the speaker's viewpoint. 二十块only then / not until才enough (sufficient)够 instead means only twenty yuan is sufficient; word position and predicate change the scope.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Adverbs.