纔 (cái) - Only & just

纔Tone 2

cái ｜ 23 strokes ｜ radical:

偲嫦

纔 · cái

Only;

just;

barely;

merely;

a short while ago;

used to indicate something has just happened or is minimal in scope.

Onlyjustbarely

Usage highlights

just nowbarely enoughonly thenjust arrivedmerely a childonly a little

Synonyms

  • 才— only; just (simplified equivalent)
  • 剛— just now; barely
  • 僅— only; merely

Antonyms

  • 已— already
  • 久— long time
  • 多— many; much

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He just arrived (纔到).
  • I only have ten dollars (纔十块钱).
  • She barely passed the exam (纔及格).
  • The movie just started (纔开始).

Collocations

  • just now(纔剛)
  • barely enough(纔夠)
  • only then(纔能)
  • just arrived(纔到)
  • merely a child(纔是小孩)
  • only a little(纔一點)

Idioms

  • The show has just begun(戲纔開場)
  • Only then did I understand(方纔明白)
  • Barely making ends meet(纔能糊口)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Traditional character used in classical and formal writing contexts.
  • Often appears in literary works to express precise timing or minimal quantity.
  • In modern usage, frequently simplified to 才 in mainland China.

FAQ