就 jiù and 才 cái have many similar functions, but not the same, which confuses many Chinese learners. In this article, we are going to talk about 7 common comparisons of 就 jiù and 才 cái.
1. Time + 就/才
| 就 jiù | 才 cái |
|---|---|
| Earlier than expected If the action happened, you need to put 了 in the end. | Later than expected |
| 你为什么8点就来公司了？ Nǐ wèishéme 8 diǎn jiù lái gōngsīle? Why did you come to the office at 8 o’clock? (This person should be here at 9, so 8 o’clock is earlier than your expectations.） 他18岁就大学毕业了 Tā 18 suì jiù dàxué bìyèle. He graduated from college when he was 18. (People usually graduated from college at 22, so you think 18 is earlier than what is normally expected.) 听说小王3月就要去中国了 * Tīng shuō Xiǎowáng 3 yuè jiù yào qù zhōngguóle. I heard that Xiao Wang is going to China in March. (You were expecting him to go to China in June, but he’s actually going in March, which is earlier than what was expected.) | 你为什么8点才来公司(呢)？ Nǐ wèishéme 8 diǎn cái lái gōngsī (ne)? Why did you come to the office at 8 o’clock? (This person should be here at 7, so 8 o’clock is later than your expectations.） 他30岁才大学毕业 Tā 30 suì cái dàxué bìyè. He graduated from college at the age of 30. (People usually graduated from college at 22, so you think 30 is later than what is normally expected.) 听说小王3月才要去中国 Tīng shuō Xiǎowáng 3 yuè cái yào qù zhōngguó. I heard that Xiao Wang is going to China in March. (You were expecting him to go to China in January, but he’s actually going in March, which is later than what was expected.) |
| * This sentence in not happen yet. The 了 here means “soon it will be changed” 要…了. |
2. Condition + 就/才 + Result
In this structure, 就 jiù and 才 cái usually go with 如果 rúguǒ, 要是 yàoshì, or 的话 dehuà.
| 就 jiù | 才 cái |
|---|---|
| This condition is essential and the only one | This condition is essential but not the only one |
| 要是你去我就去 Yàoshi nǐ qù wǒ jiù qù. I’ll go if you go. (If you do not go I definitely won’t go. I don’t consider other reasons, you are the only reason I go.) 你会中文的话，就可以到我们公司上班 Nǐ huì zhōngwén dehuà, jiù kěyǐ dào wǒmen gōngsī shàngbān. If you know Chinese, you can work in our company. (Knowing Chinese is the only requirement to work in our company.) 如果你有钱，就可以买这个包包 Rúguǒ nǐ yǒu qián, jiù kěyǐ mǎi zhège bāo bāo. If you have money, you can buy this bag. (Money is the only thing you need.) | 要是你去我才去 Yàoshi nǐ qù wǒ cái qù. I’ll only go if you go. (If you do not go I definitely won’t go. But even you go, I still need to consider other things, like the weather, the entry fee, etc.) 你会中文的话，才可以到我们公司上班 Nǐ huì zhōngwén dehuà, cái kěyǐ dào wǒmen gōngsī shàngbān. You can only work in our company if you know Chinese. (Knowing Chinese is not the only requirement to work in our company. We also need experience…) 如果你有钱，才可能买这个包包 Rúguǒ nǐ yǒu qián, cái kěnéng mǎi zhège bāo bāo. Only if you have money, you are possible to buy this bag. (A membership and a minimum purchase are also required.) |
3. Only
| 只 zhǐ | 就 jiù | 才 cái |
|---|---|---|
| 只+Verb only, no implies | 就+Verb only; just, that‘s it | 才+Verb only, less than expected |
| 我只有5块钱 Wǒ zhǐyǒu 5 kuài qián. I only have 5 dollars. 我只要一张纸 Wǒ zhǐyào yī zhāng zhǐ. I only need a piece of paper. | 我就有5块钱 Wǒ jiù yǒu 5 kuài qián. All I have is 5 dollars. That’s it. 我就要一张纸 Wǒ jiù yào yī zhāng zhǐ. All I need is a piece of paper. | 你才有5块钱! Nǐ cái yǒu 5 kuài qián! You only have five dollars! ( I thought you have more.) 你才要一张纸? Nǐ cái yào yī zhāng zhǐ? You only need a piece of paper? |
4. Just or Soon
| 就 jiù | 才 cái |
|---|---|
| Soon; immediately | Just |
| 我就要去中国了 Wǒ jiù yào qù zhōngguóle. I’m going to China soon. 就要吃饭了 Jiù yào chīfànle. Almost time to eat. | 我才从中国回来 Wǒ cái cóng zhōngguó huílái. I just got back from China. 我才吃完饭 Wǒ cái chī wán fàn. I just finished my meal. |
5. Reply to Other People
| 就 jiù | 才 cái |
|---|---|
| Giving something or someone as an exception. | Disagree, your whole idea is wrong. |
| A：听说韩国人都喜欢吃泡菜 B：我就不喜欢 A: Tīng shuō Hánguó rén dōu xǐhuan chī pàocài B: Wǒ jiù bù xǐhuan. A: I heard that all Koreans like kimchi B: I don’t like it. (I am the exception) A：女生洗澡都要洗这么久吗？ B：看人！我姐姐就洗得很快 A: Nǚshēng xǐzǎo dōu yào xǐ zhème jiǔ ma? B: Kàn rén! Wǒ jiějie jiù xǐ dé hěn kuài. A: Do all girls have to take such a long time to take a shower? B: It depends! My sister takes a shower really fast. | A：听说美国人每天吃泡菜 B：美國人才不每天吃泡菜 B：美国人才不每天吃泡菜 A: Tīng shuō Měiguó rén měitiān chī pàocài B: Měiguó rén cái bù měitiān chī pàocài A: I heard that Americans eat kimchi every day. B: No…Americans don’t eat kimchi every day. A：你么男生都不洗澡真的很脏 B：我们才没有不洗澡，我们只是洗得很快 * A: Nǐme nánshēng dōu bù xǐzǎo zhēnde hěnzāng. B: Wǒmen cái méiyǒu bù xǐzǎo, wǒmen zhǐshì xǐ de hěnkuài. A: You boys don’t shower. It’s really dirty. B: We do shower. We just wash quickly. |
| * 沒有不méiyǒu bù: 2 negatives equal positive. But in this structure you can‘t just change it to positive. “才“ needs to deny the whole statement that you disagree. |
6. S + 就/才 + 是
| 就 jiù | 才 cái |
|---|---|
| Exactly | Not that one, it should be this one |
| A：谁是Tiffany？ B：我就是 A: Shéi shì Tiffany? B: Wǒ jiùshì. A: Who is Tiffany? B: I am (Tiffany.) 这位就是新来的李老师 Zhè wèi jiùshì xīn lái de Lǐ lǎoshī. This is the new teacher Mr. Lee. 那边那个房子就是我家 Nà biān nàge fángzi jiùshì wǒjiā. That house over there is my house. | A：谁是Tiffany？ B：我才是 A: Shéi shì Tiffany? B: Wǒ cái shì A: Who is Tiffany? B: (Not that person!) I am (Tiffany.) 妳說错了！这位才是新来的李老师 Nǐ shuō cuòle! Zhè wèi cáishì xīn lái de Lǐ lǎoshī. You’re wrong! This is the new teacher, Mr. Lee. 你看错了，旁边那个才是我家 Nǐ kàn cuòle, pángbiān nàge cáishì wǒjiā. You’re looking at the wrong one, the one next to it is my house. |
7. Easy or Hard
| 就 jiù | 才 cái |
|---|---|
| Easier than expected | Harder than expected |
| 中文的声调我听一遍就学会了 Zhōngwén de shēngdiào wǒ tīng yībiàn jiù xuéhuìle. I learned the Chinese tones just by listening to them once? (You think learning Chinese tones is earlier than your expectations.） 他很轻松就找到工作了 Tā hěn qīngsōng jiù zhǎodào gōngzuòle He found a job very easily. | 中文的声调我听了好多遍才学会 Zhōngwén de shēngdiào wǒ tīngle hǎoduō biàn cái xuéhuì. I had to listen to the Chinese tones many times to learn. (You think learning Chinese tones is harder than your expectations.） 他好不容易才找到工作 Tā hǎobù róngyì cái zhǎodào gōngzuò He had a hard time finding a job. |
Do Some Practice
