就 and 才: early and late

Both go before the verb and show how you feel about the time. 就 is “already, as early as” (with 了): 六点就起床了. 才 is “only, not until” (no 了): 九点才起床. The same hour can be early or late, as you see it.

Examples

• 他六点就起床了。 Tā liù diǎn jiù qǐchuáng le. He got up as early as six.
• 他九点才起床。 Tā jiǔ diǎn cái qǐchuáng. He didn't get up until nine.
• 现在才八点。 Xiànzài cái bā diǎn. It's only eight o'clock.

More in this chapter

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