Chinese grammar · Intermediate (B1)
就 and 才
How 就 shows that something is early, quick or easy, how 才 shows that it is late, slow or hard, and their roles in 如果…就, 一…就 and 只有…才.
Early or late
(jiù) and (cái) go before the verb, after a time word or amount, and show how the speaker feels about the time. means “as early as, already, that quickly”: (tā liù diǎn jiù qǐchuáng le), he got up at six (that's early). means “not until, only then”: (tā shí diǎn cái qǐchuáng), he didn't get up until ten (that's late).
Watch the 了: sentences with about the past usually end in 了, but sentences with don't.
| Sentence | Feeling | English |
|---|---|---|
| (Tā èrshí suì jiù jiéhūn le.) | early | She got married at just twenty. |
| (Tā sānshíwǔ suì cái jiéhūn.) | late | She didn't get married until thirty-five. |
| (Zǒulù wǔ fēnzhōng jiù dào le.) | quick | It's only five minutes on foot. |
| (Wǒ zuòle liǎng ge xiǎoshí de chē cái dào.) | slow | It took me two hours to get there. |
| (Tā měi tiān shí'èr diǎn cái shuì.) | late | He doesn't go to bed until midnight. |
| (Wǒ mǎshàng jiù lái.) | soon | I'll be right there. |
才 for “only”, 就 for “just, right”
Before a number, means “only, as little as”: (tā cái shíqī suì), he's only seventeen. can point at something exactly: (jiù zài zhèr), right here; (jiù shì tā), it's him. In a shop, (jiù zhèxiē) means “that's all”.
(Nǐ zěnme xiànzài cái lái?), why are you only coming now?, is a common complaint.
- 现在才七点，还早呢。Xiànzài cái qī diǎn, hái zǎo ne.It's only seven, it's still early.
- 我家就在前面。Wǒ jiā jiù zài qiánmiàn.My home is just ahead.
- 他来中国才半年，中文就说得很好了。Tā lái Zhōngguó cái bàn nián, Zhōngwén jiù shuō de hěn hǎo le.He's only been in China for six months and he already speaks Chinese well.
就 and 才 in linked sentences
In two-part sentences, introduces a natural, easy consequence: 如果…就…, if … then; 一…就…, as soon as; 只要…就…, as long as. introduces something that happens only under a necessary condition: 只有…才…, only if.
Both words go after the subject of the second clause, right before the verb.
- 如果明天下雨，我们就不去了。Rúguǒ míngtiān xià yǔ, wǒmen jiù bú qù le.If it rains tomorrow, we won't go.
- 我一到家就给你打电话。Wǒ yí dào jiā jiù gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà.I'll call you as soon as I get home.
- 只要坚持锻炼，血压就会降下来。Zhǐyào jiānchí duànliàn, xuèyā jiù huì jiàng xiàlai.As long as you keep exercising, your blood pressure will come down.
- 只有每天复习，才能记住这些词。Zhǐyǒu měi tiān fùxí, cái néng jìzhù zhèxiē cí.Only by revising every day can you remember these words.
Other everyday uses
also means “then, in that case”, picking up what someone has just said: (nà wǒ jiù bú qù le), then I won't go. Before a number it can mean “only”, like : (wǒ jiù yǒu yìbǎi kuài), I've only got a hundred yuan.
Both words can also add emphasis. stresses a firm choice: (wǒ jiù yào zhège), this is the one I want. with at the end rejects an idea firmly: (wǒ cái bú qù ne), there's no way I'm going.
- 你不想去？那我们就在家吧。Nǐ bù xiǎng qù? Nà wǒmen jiù zài jiā ba.You don't want to go? Then let's stay at home.
- 我就有一百块，不够。Wǒ jiù yǒu yìbǎi kuài, bú gòu.I've only got a hundred yuan, it isn't enough.
- 我就要这个，别的都不要。Wǒ jiù yào zhège, bié de dōu bú yào.This is the one I want, I don't want any of the others.
- 他才不会生气呢。Tā cái bú huì shēngqì ne.He won't get angry, don't worry.