才[cái]

名

1. ability; talent

♦ 才能

2. a capable person

♦ 人才

3. people of a certain type

♦ 奴才

副

1. a moment ago; just

♦ 你怎么~来就要走？ You've only just come. Why do you want to leave so soon?

2. (preceded by an expression of time) not until

♦ 他九点钟~来, 太晚了。 He didn't come until 9 o'clock. That was too late.

♦ 大风到晚上~住了。 The gale didn't stop until evening.

3. (preceded by an expression of reason or condition) not unless; not until; then and only then; for no other reason

♦ 经他解释之后, 我~明白是怎么回事。 I didn't understand what was going on until he explained it to me.

♦ 他说行~行。 It's OK only if he says so.

4. (followed by a numerical expression) only

♦ 这孩子~五岁, 已经认得不少字了。 The child is only five, and he already knows quite a few characters.

5. (used in an assertion or contradiction, emphasizing what comes before 才, usu. with 呢 at the end of the sentence) actually; really

♦ 这~好呢! Now this is really good!

♦ 你以为他傻吗？他~不傻呢! You think he's stupid? Not him!