才…就
Pattern
才 + first event，就 + second event
Key words
Core idea
才…就… can mean “only just... and already...”
The first event is marked as recent or minimal. The second event happens surprisingly soon after.
Compare with only then
Another use of 才 means “only then,” where the later action waits for a condition. In this pattern, 就 highlights how quickly the second event follows.
Word order note
Put 才 before the first event and 就 before the second event.
Examples
他才坐下就睡着了。
Tā cái zuòxià jiù shuìzháo le.
He had only just sat down and already fell asleep.
我才说一句，他就笑了。
Wǒ cái shuō yí jù, tā jiù xiào le.
I had only said one sentence and he already laughed.
我们才到家，雨就下了。
Wǒmen cái dào jiā, yǔ jiù xià le.
We had only just arrived home when it started raining.
Common mistakes
Avoid
他坐下才睡着就了。
Use
他才坐下就睡着了。
才 marks the first event as very recent; 就 comes before the second event.