才 vs 就 (late vs early) · 才 vs 就 (tarde vs cedo)
One clock time supports two reactions
- An early worker expects arrival at six; a late worker expects arrival at nine.
- 他八点就到了。她八点才到。 — 就 and 才 present the same arrival time as early or late against different expectations.
One clock time supports two reactions
- An early worker expects arrival at six; a late worker expects arrival at nine.
- he / him他八点then / just就to / arrive到(completed / change)了。she / her她八点only then / not until才to / arrive到。 — then / just就 and only then / not until才 present the same arrival time as early or late against different expectations.
An early worker expects arrival at six; a late worker expects arrival at nine. What does 他八点就到了。她八点才到。 communicate?
就 and 才 present the same arrival time as early or late against different expectations. Check the expected time, not only the clock number. 了 is common in the completed 就 example; the words themselves do not assign a tense to every sentence.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is 才 vs 就 (late vs early). 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.
he他six o'clock六点already就get up起床了。
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is only then / not until才 vs then / just就 (late vs early). 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.
he他six o'clock六点already就get up起床了。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: He got up as early as six: 他六点 ____ 起床了。
就 evaluates the six-o'clock rising as early against the expectation. 了 marks the event in this example, not a compulsory feature of every 就 sentence.
Read examples in context
he他nine o'clock九点not until才get up起床。
- In the opening example, 他八点就到了。她八点才到。: 就 and 才 present the same arrival time as early or late against different expectations.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Read examples in context
he他nine o'clock九点not until才get up起床。
- In the opening example, he / him他八点then / just就to / arrive到(completed / change)了。she / her她八点only then / not until才to / arrive到。: then / just就 and only then / not until才 present the same arrival time as early or late against different expectations.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Which sentence says he got up LATE (later than expected)? · Qual frase diz que ele acordou TARDE (mais tarde do que esperado)?
才 evaluates the arrival or rising as late against an expectation; 就 presents it as early. Neither word alone is a tense marker.
Build: “He got up as early as six.” · Construa: “Ele acordou tão cedo quanto às seis.”
Time + 就 + Verb + 了: 他六点 + 就 + 起床了. · Tempo + 就 + Verbo + 了: 他六点 + 就 + 起床了.
Know the boundary
- Check the expected time, not only the clock number.
- 了 is common in the completed 就 example; the words themselves do not assign a tense to every sentence.
Know the boundary
- Check the expected time, not only the clock number.
- (completed / change)了 is common in the completed then / just就 example; the words themselves do not assign a tense to every sentence.
就 and 才 choose the same evaluation for a time regardless of the speaker's expectation.
The same clock time can be early or late against different schedules. Look at the expectation.
In the opening situation: 就 and 才 present the same arrival time as early or late against different expectations.
Check the expected time, not only the clock number. 了 is common in the completed 就 example; the words themselves do not assign a tense to every sentence. 就 and 才 present the same arrival time as early or late against different expectations.
Use the distinction
- 就 and 才 present the same arrival time as early or late against different expectations.
- Check the expected time, not only the clock number. 了 is common in the completed 就 example; the words themselves do not assign a tense to every sentence.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Comparing adverbs.
Use the distinction
- then / just就 and only then / not until才 present the same arrival time as early or late against different expectations.
- Check the expected time, not only the clock number. (completed / change)了 is common in the completed then / just就 example; the words themselves do not assign a tense to every sentence.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Comparing adverbs.