才
cái
(variant of 才[cai2]) just now
(variant of 才[cai2]) (before an expression of quantity) only
才 — the 'just barely' timing and quantity marker
才 originally depicted a seedling just barely breaking through the ground — something that has just arrived, barely present. From that image of minimal emergence, it was extended to mean 'just now' and 'only,' marking smallness in time or quantity.
Words with 才
通才
tōng cái
polymath
通才教育
tōng cái jiào yù
liberal education
适才
shì cái
just now; a moment ago (often used in the early vernacular)
郎才女貌
láng cái nǚ mào
talented man and beautiful woman
量才录用
liàng cái lù yòng
to assess sb's capabilities and employ him accordingly (idiom); to employ sb competent for the task
雄才大略
xióng cái dà lüè
great skill and strategy
冯骥才
féng jì cái
Feng Jicai (1942-), novelist from Tianjin, author of Extraordinary people in our ordinary world 俗世奇人
高才
gāo cái
great talent; rare capability
高才生
gāo cái shēng
student of great ability
鬼才信
guǐ cái xìn
who would believe it!
不才
bù cái
untalented
不打不成才
bù dǎ bù chéng cái
spare the rod and spoil the child (idiom)