Introducing the use of adverbs “才” and “就”

In this video we discuss the usage of adverbs “就jiù” and “才cái”.

“就jiù” usually indicates something is done early or quickly, while “才cái” usually indicates something is done late or slowly.

• subject + measure word + 就（jiù）+ verb +了

We put “就” before the verb to emphasize somebody finished doing something quickly than expected or in a short time. Please notice that “quickly than expected or in a short time” is the speaker’s subjective view. For example：

西西一天就看完一本书了。

Xīxi yītiān jiù kànwán yīběn shū le.

If the speaker thought it would be quick or in a short time to finish a book in only one day，he could add “就”before the verb. Notice that we always use “了”at the end of the sentence when we use “就”. Similarly，this structure can also emphasize somebody finished doing something earlier than expected，for example：

我今天早上六点就起床了。Wǒ jīntiān zǎoshàng liùdiǎn jiù qǐchuáng le.

• subject + measure word +才 （cái）+ verb

“才” can express the opposite. We put “才” before the verb to emphasize somebody finished doing something slowly than one would think.

王小宝一个月才读完一本书。

Similarly，“王小宝今天早上九点才起床。Wáng xiǎobǎo jīntiān zǎoshàng jiǔdiǎn cái qǐchuáng. ” Means Wang xiaobao got up later than expected.

The following is Chinese and English Version of Situational Dialogue in the Video：

西西：今天是星期天，我十点才起床，你呢？

王小宝：我今天要去图书馆，七点就起床了。

西西：图书馆离你家远吗？

王小宝：很远，坐地铁一个小时才能到。

西西：哦，真的很远。图书馆离我家不远，骑车十五分钟就到了。

王小宝：啊，太方便了！

Xīxi：Today is Sunday. I don’t get up until ten o’clock, and you?

Wáng xiǎobǎo：I got up at seven o’clock because I’m going to the library.

Xīxi：Is the library far from your home?

Wáng xiǎobǎo：It’s a far from my home, about an hour’s subway.

Xīxi：Oh, it’s really far away. The library is near my home, about fifteen minutes’ bike.

Wáng xiǎobǎo：Ah, it’s so convenient!

© Shanghai International Studies University