HSK 3 · VERSION 2.0#15

Using “cái” for Small Numbers

才

cái

How it works

才 can also emphasize that a number is small or less than expected.

Subject + 才 + Number / Quantity

这个班才八个学生。

Zhège bān cái bā ge xuésheng.

This class only has eight students.

他今年才二十岁。

Tā jīnnián cái èrshí suì.

He is only twenty years old this year.

我才看了两页。

Wǒ cái kàn le liǎng yè.

I have only read two pages.

This 才 often suggests “less than expected.”