Time + 才 (not until — lateness)
Later than you'd think
- He didn't get home until eleven. She didn't start uni until 25.
- For something happening later than expected, use only then / not until才 ("not until").
- It's the grumpy opposite of then / just就 ("already, sooner than you'd think").
Which word marks something later than expected?
才 = later than expected; 就 = earlier than expected.
Subject + Time + only then / not until才 + Verb
- Put only then / not until才 after the (late) time, right before the verb.
I我yesterday昨天eleven o'clock十一点not until才got home到家。
- 十一点only then / not until才to / arrive到home家 = "didn't get home until eleven."
Complete: 他二十五岁 ____ 上大学。(He didn't start uni until 25.)
Time + 才 + Verb — 二十五岁才上大学.
Build: “I didn't get home until eleven (last night).”
Time + 才 + Verb: 昨天 + 十一点 + 才 + 到家.
Watch out
This only then / not until才 takes no (completed / change)了 — the lateness is the point, not a tidy completion: 四十岁only then / not until才to marry结婚 ✓, never only then / not until才to marry结婚(completed / change)了. (only then / not until才 = late; then / just就 = early.)
Correct or broken?
Time + 才 says it happened LATER than hoped — and 才 refuses a final 了.
The verb after this 才 takes 了 (e.g. 才结婚了).
No 了: 四十岁才结婚 ✓, not 才结婚了.
Recap
- Subject + Time + only then / not until才 + Verb — not until (later than expected)
- No (completed / change)了 after the verb
- only then / not until才 = late / barely; then / just就 = early / already
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Adverbs.