▎才, cái, (Adv), then and only then (3)

 

Function When the adverb 才 is used in the second (consequence) clause, it indicates that the consequence takes place only when the condition or circumstance specified in the first clause is obtained successfully.

1 新人得選好日子，才能結婚。

Xīnrén děi xuǎnhǎo rìzi, cái néng jiéhūn.

The bride and groom-to-be have to select an auspicious day before they can get married.

2 做餃子得先準備好餃子皮和餡兒，才能包。

Zuò jiǎozi děi xiān zhǔnbèihǎo jiǎozipí hàn xiànr, cái néng bāo.

When making dumplings, the skins and filling have to be prepared first before the dumplings can be wrapped. (i.e., made)

3 大家為了幫你，才給你這些建議。

Dàjiā wèile bāng nǐ, cái gěi nǐ zhèxiē jiànyì.

We gave you these suggestions only because we wanted to help you.

 

Structures 才 is an adverb, and occurs before the auxiliary verb and other adverbials.

Questions：

1 我們一定要訂好旅館，才可以去旅行嗎？

Wǒmen yídìng yào dìnghǎo lǚguǎn, cái kěyǐ qù lǚxíng ma?

Do we have to book a hotel before we can go on the trip?

2 是不是要天天練習，太極拳才能打得好？

Shìbúshì yào tiāntiān liànxí, Tàijí quán cái néng dǎ de hǎo?

You need to practice every day before you can be good at Tai Chi, right?

3 這些新衣服你是不是都穿一下，才能知道哪件適合？

Zhèxiē xīn yīfú nǐ shìbúshì dōu chuān yíxià, cái néng zhīdào nǎ jiàn shìhé?

Only by trying on all these new clothes will you know which one suits you best, right?

 

Usage When 才 is used in the second clause, words such as 得děi ‘have to’, 要yào ‘want to, need to’, 為了wèile ‘for the sake of, because of’, 因為yīnwèi ‘because’ are often used in the first clause.

1 觀光客得先買票，才能參觀博物館。

Guānguāng kè děi xiān mǎi piào, cái néng cānguān bówùguǎn.

Tourists need to buy tickets before they can visit, i.e., look around, the museum.

2 因為合約快到期了，小李才找房子搬家。

Yīnwèi héyuē kuài dàoqí le, Xiǎo Lǐ cái zhǎo fángzi bānjiā.

Xiao Li looked for a new place to move to only because his lease was about to expire.

3 為了考試有個好成績，他才每天念那麼久的書。

Wèile kǎoshì yǒu ge hǎo chéngjī, tā cái měi tiān niàn nàme jiǔ de shū.

He only studies so long every day, because he wants to get a good score on the test.