The first clause names the effort — how many tries, how long the wait, how much struggle — and 才才 cái introduces the payoff, marking it as later or harder-won than you’d hope.
1 Structure
Unexpected Statement + 才才 cái + Result
我問了好幾個路人才問到正確的方向。我问了好几个路人才问到正确的方向。
I had to ask several passersby before I got the right directions.
我改了五次企劃書，老闆才終於點頭同意。我改了五次企划书，老板才终于点头同意。
I revised the proposal five times before the boss finally nodded in agreement.
他花了很大的力氣才把那台冰箱搬上樓。他花了很大的力气才把那台冰箱搬上楼。
He had to use a lot of strength before he managed to carry that fridge upstairs.
我們吵了好幾次架才終於達成共識。我们吵了好几次架才终于达成共识。
We had several arguments before we finally reached an agreement.
他試了很多次才通過了HSK考試。他试了很多次才通过了HSK考试。
He tried many times before passing the HSK test.
我其實重做了三次，才有現在這個網站。我其实重做了三次，才有现在这个网站。
I actually redid it three times before I had this site now.
Point
If you want to express that something happens easier than expected, you should use 就就 jiù instead.
2 Common Mistakes
Most errors come from reaching for 就就 jiù when the sentence is actually about extra effort, or misplacing 才才 cái before the effort clause instead of the result clause.
❌
我打了很多通電話，就找到答案。我打了很多通电话，就找到答案。
✅
我打了很多通電話，才找到答案。我打了很多通电话，才找到答案。
就就 jiù signals something happened faster or more easily than expected, so pairing it with 很多通很多通 hěnduōtōng (many calls) contradicts that ease. For something that took more effort than expected, 才才 cái is correct.
❌
我才等了兩個小時見到醫生。我才等了两个小时见到医生。
✅
我等了兩個小時才見到醫生。我等了两个小时才见到医生。
才才 cái has to sit directly before the result clause it’s introducing — right before 見到醫生见到医生 (finally saw the doctor) — not before the effort clause that names how long it took.
3 才才 vs 就就
Same slot in the sentence, opposite direction — one marks a struggle, the other marks how easy it turned out to be.
|
才才 cái |
就就 jiù |
| Meaning |
Harder, later, or with more effort than expected |
Easier, sooner, or with less effort than expected |
| Structure |
Effort / delay clause + 才才 cái + result |
Minimal effort clause + 就就 jiù + result |
| Tone |
Struggle, delay, sometimes relief or frustration |
Ease, surprise at how simple it was |
| Example |
我改了五次企劃書，老闆才終於點頭同意。我改了五次企划书，老板才终于点头同意。 |
我打一通電話就找到答案了。我打一通电话就找到答案了。 |
4 Practice
Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.
01I failed many times before I succeeded now.
我失敗了很多次，才有現在的成功。我失败了很多次，才有现在的成功。
👆 Tap to reveal
02I dated a lot of guys before I found my husband now.
我交往了很多男生才找到我現在的先生。我交往了很多男生才找到我现在的先生。
👆 Tap to reveal
03She saved her salary for 30 years before she finally bought a house.
她存了30年的薪水才終於買到房子。她攒了30年的工资才终于买到房子。
👆 Tap to reveal
04He called me many times before I finally answered.
他打了很多通電話，我才終於接起來。他打了很多通电话，我才终于接起来。
👆 Tap to reveal
05I practiced for two years before I could play this song well.
我練習了兩年才能把這首歌彈好。我练习了两年才能把这首歌弹好。
👆 Tap to reveal
06We waited in line for three hours before we finally got in.
我們排了三個小時的隊才進去。我们排了三个小时的队才进去。
👆 Tap to reveal
07He explained it five times before I finally understood.
他解釋了五次我才終於聽懂。他解释了五次我才终于听懂。
👆 Tap to reveal
08I searched the whole house before I finally found my keys.
我找遍了整個家才找到鑰匙。我找遍了整个家才找到钥匙。
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09She rewrote the essay four times before the teacher was satisfied.
她把作文改了四次，老師才滿意。她把作文改了四次，老师才满意。
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10I studied all night before I finally passed the exam.
我熬了一整夜才通過考試。我熬了一整夜才通过考试。
👆 Tap to reveal
