才
Pattern
Event / condition + 才 + action
Key words
Core idea
才 can mean “only then.” It marks that the second action happens only after a condition, time, or earlier action is satisfied.
The 才 action often feels delayed, restricted, or dependent.
Compare with simple sequence
Without 才, the sentence may just say what happens next. With 才, the earlier condition becomes important: the later action does not happen until that point.
Word order note
才 comes before the action it controls.
Examples
做完作业，我才看电视。
Zuòwán zuòyè, wǒ cái kàn diànshì.
Only after finishing homework do I watch TV.
到了台北以后，他才打电话。
Dào le Táiběi yǐhòu, tā cái dǎ diànhuà.
Only after arriving in Taipei did he call.
你先吃药，病才会好。
Nǐ xiān chī yào, bìng cái huì hǎo.
Only if you take medicine first will the illness get better.
Common mistakes
Avoid
做完作业，我看电视才。
Use
做完作业，我才看电视。
才 comes before the action that happens only after the earlier condition is met.