才
cái
Only then, just
How to say “not until” in Chinese with 才 (cái)
Subj. + Time + 才 (cái) + Verb
才 (cái) — lateness, “not until”
HSK 3Adverbs
Subj. + Time + 才 (cái) + Verb
HSK 3Adverbs才 (cái) — lateness, “not until”
Rule structure
才 (cái) before the verb indicates that an action happened later than expected or only after a certain point. It emphasizes lateness, delay, or the speaker’s feeling that the action did not happen early.
Rule structure
才 (cái) before the verb indicates that an action happened later than expected or only after a certain point. It emphasizes lateness, delay, or the speaker’s feeling that the action did not happen early.
Examples
他晚上十点才回家。
Tā wǎnshang shí diǎn cái huí jiā.
He didn't come home until 10 p.m.
他下午三点才来。
Tā xiàwǔ sāndiǎn cái lái.
He came only at three p.m.
我晚上十点才吃饭。
Wǒ wǎnshang shídiǎn cái chīfàn.
I didn't eat until 10 p.m.
Examples
他晚上十点才回家。
Tā wǎnshang shí diǎn cái huí jiā.
He didn't come home until 10 p.m.
他下午三点才来。
Tā xiàwǔ sāndiǎn cái lái.
He came only at three p.m.
我晚上十点才吃饭。
Wǒ wǎnshang shídiǎn cái chīfàn.
I didn't eat until 10 p.m.
Practice
Build the sentence
Drag the characters to put them in the correct order
Characters
Words from this rule
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “lateness, ‘not until’” in Chinese with 才?
Use the structure: Subj. + Time + 才 (cái) + Verb. For example: 他晚上十点才回家。 — “He didn't come home until 10 p.m”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
他晚上十点才回家。 — “He didn't come home until 10 p.m”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.
Tomyo
Learn Chinese grammar with smart reviews
Grammar explanations, exercises and spaced repetition — all in one app.
More HSK 3 grammar rules
一边 — doing two things at once
一边 (yìbiān) + Verb 1, 一边 (yìbiān) + Verb 2
终于 — finally
Subj. + 终于 (zhōngyú) + Verb + 了 (le)
总是 — always
总是 (zǒngshì) + Predicate
几乎 — nearly, almost
Subj. + 几乎 (jīhū) + Verb/Adj.
又 — again in the past
又 (yòu) + Verb + 了 (le)
只 — only, just
Subj. + 只 (zhǐ) + Verb + Obj.
先 — first… then…
先 (xiān)……, 再 (zài)……
老是 — always (complaining)
Subj. + 老是 (lǎoshì) + Verb/Adj.