Just 才 cái Grammar

Grammar Point:
In Chinese grammar, 才 cái is used to express that an action has “just” happened. It is commonly used with other words that indicate “just,” such as 剛刚剛刚 gānggāng or 剛刚 gāng.

Structure

S + 才 cái + V

你nǐ怎麼zěnme才cái來lái就jiù要yào走zǒu？ 你nǐ怎么zěnme才cái来lái就jiù要yào走zǒu？
He just woke up, let’s wait for a moment.

他tā剛剛gānggāng才cái起床qǐcháig， 讓ràng我們wǒmen等一下děngyìxià他tā刚刚gānggāng才cái起床qǐcháig， 让ràng我们wǒmen等一下儿děngyìxiàr
He just woke up, let’s wait for a moment.

他tā才cái到dào台灣Táiwān不bù久jiǔ， 中文zhōngwén當然dāngrán說shuō得de不bù好hǎo他tā才cái到dào台湾Táiwān不bù久jiǔ， 中文zhōngwén当然dāngrán说shuō得de不bù好hǎo
He hasn’t been in Taiwan for long, so of course he doesn’t speak Chinese well.

你nǐ才cái剛gāng認識rènshi我wǒ， 所以suǒyǐ那麼nàme容易róngyì相信xiāngxìn我wǒ說shuō的de話huà你nǐ才cái刚gāng认识rènshi我wǒ， 所以suǒyǐ那么nàme容易róngyì相信xiāngxìn我wǒ说shuō的de话huà
You’ve just met me, that’s why you trust what I say so easily. 🤥

老闆lǎobǎn才cái離開líkāi1 分鐘fēnzhōng， 你nǐ應該yīnggāi還hái找zhǎo得de到dào他tā老板lǎobǎn才cái离开líkāi1 分钟fēnzhōng， 你nǐ应该yīnggāi还hái找zhǎo得de到dào他tā
The owner only left a minute ago, you should still be able to find him.

我wǒ才cái剛gāng說shuō完wán， 你nǐ就jiù馬上mǎshàng又yòu做zuò錯cuò， 你nǐ是shì腦袋nǎodài有yǒu洞dòng嗎ma？ 我wǒ才cái刚gāng说shuō完wán， 你nǐ就jiù马上mǎshàng又yòu做zuò错cuò， 你nǐ是shì脑袋nǎodai有yǒu洞dòng吗ma？
I just told you, and you immediately made another mistake. Do you have a hole in your head?

FYI
“腦袋有洞脑袋有洞 nǎodàai yǒu dòng” is a lighthearted and humorous way of saying that someone is a little absent-minded or forgetful. It’s like saying “their head has holes in it” in a playful way. It’s often used between friends and family members in a joking manner, and is not meant to be taken too seriously.

那nà魚yú才cái剛gāng放fàng進jìn烤箱kǎoxiāng， 還hái不能bùnéng吃chī！ 那nà鱼yú才cái刚gāng放fàng进jìn烤箱kǎoxiāng， 还hái不能bùnéng吃chī！
The fish has just been put into the oven, it can’t be eaten yet!

• The opposite word is 就 jiù, which is used to express that an action happens immediately.

• Different between 剛剛 gānggāng, 剛 gāng, and 剛才 gāngcái

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ Did you just finish eating and you’re already hungry?

你nǐ才cái剛gāng吃chī完wán， 就jiù餓è了le？ 你nǐ才cái刚gāng吃chī完wán， 就jiù饿è了le？

✔️ What should I do? I just got my salary and I’ve already spent it all.

怎麼辦zěnmebàn我wǒ才cái剛剛gānggāng拿ná到dào薪水xīnshuǐ就jiù花huā完wán了le怎么办zěnmebàn我wǒ才cái刚刚gānggāng拿ná到dào薪水xīnshuǐ就jiù花huā完wán了le

✔️ You just had boba milk tea yesterday, why did you buy it again today? I’m definitely going to get fat.

昨天zuótiān才cái喝hē珍奶zhēnnǎi， 你nǐ怎麼zěnme今天jīntiān又yòu買mǎi了le， 我wǒ一定yídìng會huì胖pàng死sǐ昨天zuótiān才cái喝hē珍奶zhēnnǎi， 你nǐ怎么zěnme今天jīntiān又yòu买mǎi了le， 我wǒ一定yídìng会huì胖pàng死sǐ

Other 才 cái related posts:

• 才 cái Chinese Grammar