Using "cai" for small numbers

Nível: HSK 3 | Categoria: Gramática

Explicação da Regra:

The character 才 (cái) can be used to emphasize that a number is small, or less than expected. In this case, 才 means "is only" or "only have." 才 + Number + [Measure Word] + Noun In English, we often express this by using "only" or "just" to emphasize that the number is small.

Exemplos com Falantes Nativos:

• 你才二十岁？ (nǐ cái èrshí sùi ？): "Are you twenty?"
• 这个班才两个学生。 (zhè gè bān cái liǎng gè xuéshēng 。): "There are only two students in this class."
• 你的工资才两千？ (nǐ de gōngzī cái liǎng qiān ？): "Your salary is only two thousand?"
• 这顿饭才二十块，太便宜了！ (zhè dùn fàn cái èrshí kuài ，tài biànyí le ！): "This meal is only twenty yuan, so cheap!"
• 你才一百斤，还要减肥？ (nǐ cái yībǎi jīn ，huán yào jiǎnféi ？): "You're only a hundred pounds and you still have to lose weight?"

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