才

cái

ability; talent, a capable person, people of a certain type, a moment ago; just, (preceded by an expression of time) not until, (preceded by an expression of reason or condition) not unless; not until; then and only then; for no other reason, (followed by a numerical expression) only, (used in an assertion or contradiction, emphasizing what comes before 才, usually with 呢 at the end of the sentence) actually; really

* * *

ability; just

* * *

ability; talent; gift; just

* * *

cái

adv. only, just

cái

conj. only if

cái

n. ability, talent, endowment, gift, expert

cái

adv. only, actually, really

cái

conj. not until, not unless

* * *

1)

cai2

ability, talent, sb of a certain type, a capable individual, only, only then, just now

2)

cai2

a moment ago, just now, (preceded by a clause of condition or reason) not until, (followed by a numerical clause) only

* * *

才(纔)

cái

名

（才能） ability; talent; gift; endowment:

德才兼备 have both ability and political integrity;

多才多艺 be gifted in many ways

（有才能的人） capable person:

奇才 unusual (remarkable) talent;

人才 a person of talent; talent

（姓氏） a surname:

才宽 Cai Kuan

副

（表示事情在前不久发生; 刚才）:

节目才开始。 The performance has just started.

怎么，才来就要走? Why leave so soon? You've only just arrived.

（表示事情发生或结束得晚）:

你怎么才来? Why are you so late?

他昨天才离开大连。 He left Dalian only yesterday.

（表示只有在某种条件下，或由于某种原因、目的、然后怎么样， 前面常有“只有、必须、因为、由于” 等配合;方才）:

非要等起重机来了才能装运吗? Must we wait till the crane arrives before we start loading?

只有肯努力，才能得到好的学习成绩。 Only you study hard can you get good results.

（对比起来表示数量小，次数少， 能力差等等; 仅仅）:

解放前全国钢年产量最高才90多万吨。 Before liberation, China's highest annual output of steel was only just over 900,000 tons.

当时他才五岁。 He was only five years old then.

（表示强调所说的事， 句尾常用“呢”字）:

麦子长得才好呢 ! The wheat is coming along fine.

他要是不知道才怪呢 ! It would be strange if he didn't know.

屋子里不热， 外面才热呢! It is not hot in the house, but it's really hot outside.

* * *

-A

才|才 [cái] ► ability ► talent ► sb of a certain type ► a capable individual ► only ► only then ► just now

-B

纔|才 [cái] ► a moment ago ► just now ► (preceded by a clause of condition or reason) not until ► (followed by a numerical clause) only