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才 (纔) ★★

[cái]
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Collins Chinese-English Dictionary

才 [cái]

1. noun [才能] ability

多才多艺

multi-talented
2. noun [人才] talent

奇才

extraordinary talent
3. adverb [刚] just

我才到家，电话就响了。

Just as I arrived home, the phone rang.
4. adverb [表示晚] not…until

路上堵车，我10点才到单位上班。

Because of the traffic jam, I did not arrive at work until ten.
5. adverb [表示条件] only…if

学生只有用功，才能取得好成绩。

Students will only be able to do well if they study hard.
6. adverb [表示情况改变] only after

他解释后，我才明白了他为什么那么难过。

It was only after he explained that I understood why he was so sad.
7. adverb [程度低] only

他才学会上网。

He has only just learned how to use the Internet.
8. adverb [表示强调] really

他才不愿意见你呢！

He really doesn't want to see you!

Comprehensive Chinese-English Dictionary

才 [cái]

1. noun ability; talent

才能

ability; capability; talent
2. noun a capable person

人才

a person of ability; a talented person; talent; qualified personnel
3. noun people of a certain type

奴才

unkey; lackey
4. adverb a moment ago; just

你怎么才来就要走？

You've only just come. Why do you want to leave so soon?
5. adverb (preceded by an expression of time) not until

他九点钟才来，太晚了。

He didn't come until 9 o'clock. That was too late.

大风到晚上才住了。

The gale didn't stop until evening.
6. adverb (preceded by an expression of reason or condition) not unless; not until; then and only then; for no other reason

经他解释之后，我才明白是怎么回事。

I didn't understand what was going on until he explained it to me.

他说行才行。

It's OK only if he says so.
7. adverb (followed by a numerical expression) only

这孩子才五岁，已经认得不少字了。

The child is only five, and he already knows quite a few characters.
8. adverb (used in an assertion or contradiction, emphasizing what comes before 才, usually with 呢 at the end of the sentence) actually; really

这才好呢！

Now this is really good!

你以为他傻吗？他才不傻呢！

You think he's stupid? Not him!

Contemporary Standard Chinese Dictionary

才 [cái]

1. 名能力；才能

德才兼备

才干(ɡàｎ)

口才
2. 名指某种人(从才能的标准说)

天才

全才

庸才
3. 副表示原来并不是这样，现在出现了新情况

说了半天才明白你的意思

这样躺着才觉得舒服
4. 副表示动作发生不久，相当于"刚刚"

才出锅，还热着呢

他才来，还顾不上去看你
5. 副表示范围小或数量少，相当于"仅仅""只"

这所学校才有五个班

这么厚的字典才卖十几块钱
6. 副表示强调

我才不管呢！

这才是好样的
7. 副前面有表时间的词语或在疑问句中，表示某种情况出现得很晚

辛苦了一辈子，到老才享上清福

你怎么才来？
8. 副表示在某种条件下或由于某种原因，然后会出现某种情况，前面常有"只有""必须""由于"一类词语

只有坚持到底，才能取得胜利

由于大家努力，情况才有了好转

See more results for 才 in the English-Chinese Dictionary

Examples

新搬来的张同志刚才拜街坊来了。: The new neighbour, Comrade Zhang, came to visit us.
我才不理那些闲话呢。: I don't pay attention to such gossip.
他九点钟才来，太晚了。: He didn't come until 9 o'clock. That was too late.
经他解释之后，我才明白是怎么回事。: I didn't understand what was going on until he explained it to me.
这才好呢！: Now this is really good!; 750 more results

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Total Strokes: 3

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nciku Note

Paired conjunctions as conveyors of conditions

Paired conjunctions as conveyors of conditions

A conjunction is a word or expression that acts as a transition between clauses and phrases in a complex sentence. For example: "不但……而且……" búdàn...érqiě... (not only … but also …), "如果……就……" rúguǒ...jiù... (if… then…), and "总而言之" zǒng'éryánzhī (all in all), where the first clause or phrase is connected to the following clause or phrase by a conjunction.

In a conditional sentence, the first part establishes the condition that follows after the words “只要” zhǐyào, “只有” zhǐyǒu, “不论” búlùn or “不管” bùguǎn, while the second part expresses the result after the “就” jiù, “才” cái, “都” dōu, or “也” yě.
(1) 只要你努力了，就一定会取得好成绩。
(2) 只有你努力了，才会取得好成绩。
(3) 不论你手里拿的是什么，都交出来。
(4) 不管你手里拿的是什么，也要交出来。

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