才

才的10種用法



1. a moment ago／just

You've only just come. Why do you want to leave so soon? 
你怎麼才來就要走？　

He had just got home when Tom came looking for him.
他才回到家裡，湯姆就來找他了．


　
2. not until／前面加"時間詞

He didn't come until 9 o'clock. That was too late. 
他九點鐘才來，太晚了．　

The gale didn't stop until evening. 
大風到晚上才止住了．

It took him two hours to get there. 
他走了兩個鐘頭才走到

How come you didn't say anything until now?
你為什麼這會兒才說呢？　


He wasn't full until he had eaten three bowls.
他吃了三碗麵才飽


I didn't understand what was going on until he explained it to me.
經他解釋之後，我才明白是怎麼回事．





3. not unless／then and only then／for no other reason
　
It's O.K. only if he says so.  他說行才行．　

Only by relying on the people can we do our work well. 
只有靠群眾，才能把工作做好．

We were sent precisely because there were problems there.
正因為有困難，才派我們去．(for not other reason)　



4. only／後面跟"數詞"

It's only 8 o'clock, so there's still plenty of time.
現在才八點鐘，還早著呢．  

Only five dollars? That's really cheap. 
才五塊錢嗎？真便宜．　

The child is only five, and he already knows quite a few characters.
這孩子才五歲，已經認得不少字了．　



5. actually／really／用於肯定或衝突，
  強調"才"字之前的詞，通常句尾用"呢"字作語助詞

Now this is really good!  這才好呢! 　

You think he is stupid? Not him!  你以為他傻嗎? 他才不傻呢! 

I can't be bothered! 或 I couldn't care less. 我才懶得管呢! 

You are the one who's lying. 你才是撒謊!

I'd be really surprised if he didn't know. 他要是不知道才怪呢!



6. 表示事情在前不久發生／剛才

The performance has just started.  節目才開始．

Why leave so soon?  怎麼，才來就要走？



7. 表示事情 發生 或 結束 得晚

He left New York only yesterday. 他昨天才離開紐約．



8. 表示只有在「某種條件下」或「由於某種原因、目的」，然後怎麼樣，前面常有"只有、必須、因為、由於"等配合

Must we wait till the crane arrives before we start loading.
非等起重機來了才能裝運嗎？

Only you study hard can you get good results.
只有肯努力，才能得到好成績．



9. 對比起來表示數量小／次數少／能力差等等／僅僅

Before 1949, China's highest annual output of steel was only just over 900,000 tons.
1949年以前中國剛年產量最高才90多萬噸．

He was only five years old then.  當時他才五歲．



10. 表示「強調所說」的事，句尾常用"呢"字

The wheat is coming along fine.  麥子長的才好呢！

It would be really strange if he didn't know. 他要是不知道才怪呢！

It is not hot in the house, but it's really hot outside. 屋子裡不熱外面才熱呢！


請注意! 在英文中這個"才"字不一定是非要用"某個單字"來表達不可；
它可以用一些特別的句型，片語或語氣來表達．
所以，學會用這些特別的句
型，片語或語氣來表達是很重要的．