才 cái
only then / just
才 (cái) means "only then / just" in Chinese and is one of the highest-frequency words in the Speak1000 curriculum.
Words used with 才
毕业
bìyè
to graduate
Frequently asked questions
What does 才 (cái) mean in Chinese?
才 (cái) means "only then / just" in Chinese. 才 (cái) means "only then / just" in Chinese and is one of the highest-frequency words in the Speak1000 curriculum.
How do you use 才 in a sentence?
Use 才 (cái) the way you would use "only then / just" in English, then build longer sentences by adding words you already know around it.
What is the difference between 才 (cái) and 只 (zhǐ)?
Both are high-frequency Chinese words taught early in Speak1000. 才 means "only then / just"; 只 means "only / just". The fastest way to tell them apart is to hear each one used in real sentences — our free lessons drill every word in context so the contrast becomes natural.
Related Chinese concepts
Why this concept matters
One concept should unlock a network, not one translation
Speak1000 teaches 才 as part of a cumulative sentence network. You connect it to concepts you already know, hear the combinations in context, and retrieve them in new situations.
See the Concept Unlock MethodHear 才 used in real sentences
The fastest way to remember 才 (cái) is to hear it used naturally. Start with our free interactive lesson and practice with real audio from day one.
Try Free Lesson: Unit 1