cái
adverbnounmeasure wordBeginner
formal

talent, ability

他有很大的才能。

He has great talent.

informal

only, just (emphasizing a small quantity or time)

我才吃了一点点。

I only ate a little bit.

formal

measure word for people (used after numbers to count people)

我们有三才学生。

We have three students.

Collocations

有才to have talent才能talent, ability才干ability, competence

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

才华横溢phrase
to be full of talent
才疏学浅phrase
to be lacking in talent and learning

💡Pro Tip

Usage as a Measure Word

'才' as a measure word is more common in classical Chinese and formal contexts. In everyday speech, '个' is more frequently used.

Gold Rule

Adverb vs. Noun

When '才' means 'only' or 'just,' it is an adverb and often appears after the verb. When it means 'talent' or 'ability,' it is a noun.

📖Word Origin

The character '才' originally depicted a person holding a tool, symbolizing skill or ability.

📝Usage Notes

When used as a measure word, '才' is often used after numbers to count people, though it is less common than '个' in modern usage.

Word Breakdown

talent, ability
root
汉英词典