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才 + Number (only — a small amount)
IntroducedYour saved position stays in this browser. Resuming does not complete the lesson or answer its questions.
A fare seems surprisingly small
- You expected a ticket to cost more than twenty yuan.
- this这张票only才二十块。 — only才 presents the price as only twenty yuan against that expectation.
You expected a ticket to cost more than twenty yuan. What does 这张票才二十块。 communicate?
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才 presents the price as only twenty yuan against that expectation. The price is a small amount from the speaker's viewpoint. 二十块才够 instead means only twenty yuan is sufficient; word position and predicate change the scope.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is only才 + Number (only — a small amount). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
you你only才twenty二十岁？
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: Complete: 这家店 ____ 开业一个星期。(This shop has only been open a week.)
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才 + small amount = “only”: 才开业一个星期.
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, this这张票only才二十块。: only才 presents the price as only twenty yuan against that expectation.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
你才二十岁? means …
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Before a number, 才 = “only that much” (surprise it's so small).
Build: “They've only known each other three months!”
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才 + amount: 他们 + 才 + 认识 + 三个月.
Know the boundary
- The price is a small amount from the speaker's viewpoint.
- 二十块only才enough (sufficient)够 instead means only twenty yuan is sufficient; word position and predicate change the scope.
Before a number, 才 stresses that the amount is large.
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It stresses the amount is small / less than expected: 才二十岁.
才二十块 says that the ticket became available at twenty o'clock.
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The price is a small amount from the speaker's viewpoint. 二十块才够 instead means only twenty yuan is sufficient; word position and predicate change the scope. 才 presents the price as only twenty yuan against that expectation.
Use the distinction
- only才 presents the price as only twenty yuan against that expectation.
- The price is a small amount from the speaker's viewpoint. 二十块only才enough (sufficient)够 instead means only twenty yuan is sufficient; word position and predicate change the scope.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Adverbs.
You expected a ticket to cost more than twenty yuan. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.