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AdverbsHSK 4

Expressing lateness with 才

Use 才 after a time expression to emphasize that an action happened late or later than expected. It often translates to 'not until' or 'as late as' in English.

Structure

Subj. + Time + 才 + Verb

Examples

  • 我昨天晚上十一点才到家。
    Wǒ zuótiān wǎnshang shíyī diǎn cái dào jiā.
    I didn't arrive at home until eleven o'clock last night.
  • 他二十五岁才上大学。
    Tā èrshí-wǔ suì cái shàng dàxué.
    He didn't go to college until he was 25.
  • 她四十岁才结婚。
    Tā sìshí suì cái jiéhūn.
    She didn't get married until she was forty.
  • 你九点上班，八点半才起床？
    Nǐ jiǔ diǎn shàngbān, bā diǎn bàn cái qǐchuáng?
    You start work at nine o'clock, but don't get up until 8:30?
  • 电影七点半开始，可是因为堵车，我们八点才到。
    Diànyǐng qī diǎn bàn kāishǐ, kěshì yīnwèi dǔchē, wǒmen bā diǎn cái dào.
    The movie began at 7:30, but we didn't arrive until eight because of traffic.

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