就 / 才
Earlier or faster vs later or slower than expected
HSK 3 · 4 examples
Speed
Both 就 and 才 go in front of the verb. 就 says something happened earlier, faster or more easily than expected; 才 says later, slower, or only after effort.
八点上课：他七点就来了（early）／他九点才来（late）。
Examples
。
He came as early as seven.
。
He did not come until nine.
。
I will be right back.
。
I only understood it after reading it twice.
Watch out
- 「就」带的是「早就/马上」的语气，「才」带的是「迟/好不容易」。
- 才 can also mean 'only then': 我看了两遍才看懂。
Words in these examples
All 15 words used in the examples above — tap any word in an example to look it up in place. Words above this level are marked new.
- 他tāHSK 1other, another; he, she, it
- 七qīHSK 1seven
- 点diǎnHSK 1dot, speck, spot; point, degree
- 就jiùHSK 1just, simply; to come, go to; to approach, near
- 来láiHSK 1come, coming; return, returning
- 了leHSK 1to finish; particle of completed action
- 九jiǔHSK 1nine
- 才cáiHSK 2talent, ability; just, only
- 我wǒHSK 1our, us, i, me, my, we
- 马上mǎ shàngHSK 1at once; right away; immediately; on horseback (i.e. by military force)
- 回来huí laiHSK 1to return; to come back
- 看kànHSK 1look, see; examine, scrutinize
- 两liǎngHSK 1two, both, pair, couple; ounce
- 遍biànHSK 2everywhere, all over, throughout
- 懂dǒngHSK 2understand, comprehend