Chinese Grammar: Difference between 才(cái) and 就(jiù)

Download the PDF transcript of this video:
/ shuoshuochinese
Timestamp
00:51 - 就 (jiù) indicates sth happens early or easily, 才 (cái) indicates sth happens late or difficult.
03:52 - Both 就 (jiù) and 才 (cái) can mean “just”, but...
06:09 - We use 就 (jiù) to stress, and use 才 (cái) to say, this is not, THIS is.
07:37 - We can use 就 (jiù) to convey a wilful attitude and use 才(cái) to show the attitude: why me? I’m not gonna do this!
08:49 - Recap
Instead of just giving you a fish, I want to teach you HOW TO FISH
Spend only TWO WEEKS on the Structure Review Plan course, you will find your brain starting to think in Chinese.
💥 Click the link to grab the course today:
shuoshuochinese.teachable.com/...
========
Learn Chinese with Shuo
💥 Find more fun and useful learning material (pdf transcript of my video, extra graded readers and Wechat community) every week and support my work: ´ / shuoshuochinese
💥 Spend only TWO WEEKS on the Structure Review Plan course, you will find your brain starting to think in Chinese.
Click the link and apply the LIMITED coupon code: CHANGE to get a 20% discount: shuoshuochinese.teachable.com/...
💥 Personalized private lesson
app.acuityscheduling.com/sche...
💥 Group conversation course:
drive.google.com/file/d/1DBoc...
Learn Chinese with other great Apps/websites:
I only recommend and collaborate with the Apps/websites that I truly think can help Chinese learners.
❤️ Yoyo Chinese conversational course & Chinese characters course: yoyochinese.ositracker.com/17... [Apply the coupon code to get a 15% discount, coupon code: shuo15]
📚APP for reading Chinese stories ** Du Chinese - www.duchinese.net/lessons [Apply the coupon code: SHUOSHUO10 to get 10% discount ]
❤️ Sign up on italki.com using my link: go.italki.com/shuoshuochinese You will receive $10 USD italki Credits in your Student Wallet within 48 hours after you make your first purchase.
✍️**APP for learning Chinese characters ** Skritter - skritter.com/?ref=shuoxiong&c... [Use this special link of sign up on your browser to get 7 days free trial! ] Coupons can be applied at sign up to save 10% on the first purchase (valid for one-month, six-month, twelve-month, and lifetime purchases).
=====
Check daily vocabulary and sentences on my Instagram: / shuoshuo_chinese
Facebook Page:
/ shuoshuochinese
===========
Hi, welcome to ShuoshuoChinese 说说中文; my name is Shuo, I’m a native Chinese teacher living in Bangkok, Thailand, I’ve been teaching Chinese as a foreign language for seven years and I’m also a language learner.
In this channel, I will upload a weekly video, in which I talk about Chinese vocabulary, Chinese grammar, Chinese culture, Chinese stories with pinyin and the English translation for listening practice.
With my channel, you can easily start to learn and understand complicated Chinese grammar, sentence structure, and differences/nuances between similar Chinese words.
If you are a Chinese beginner, I’m planning to upload videos about what Chinese language is, how it differs from English, Chinese pronunciations, Chinese characters and Chinese stroke sequences and a mini Chinese course, (10 minutes per day), which can help you learn quickly and easily. Don’t miss it!
So, subscribe to my channel and start your Chinese learning journey!

[@sinfuldavy0]

It just dawned on me how brilliant you are. You have to have mastered English to be so articulate in your explanations. Another fantastic job from KZbin‘s finest. Thank you so much

[@TulekBehar]

Please remind me . Is it 硕？硕大无朋？！

[@MarkusBlue]

When no book nor teacher can explain this “complicated” point, shuoshuo is there to help! 👏👏👏

[@nikred280]

dui!!!!

[@perfectstudents8361]

Shuoshuo has the ability to explain difficult subjects clearly with simple sentences. I speak Chinese but can still learn a lot.

[@StratosFair]

Imo, Shuoshuo is the best chinese teacher on KZbin

[@youtubeoffname]

You are getting great at this, Shuo. Keep making them entertaining. Wish you millions of views!!!

[@FuZhixiang]

I make two sentences for you who is learning hard in Chinese. 就: If you work hard, you can (then 就) earn higher reputation. 才: Only if you work hard can you (then 才) earn higher reputation.

[@threecoinsinthefount]

I found this particular video very useful mainly because the two conjunctions are used very frequently and also because of their nuances which can be easily confused.

[@thaihm]

I knew you would be able to open up another world of lessons. Great work 谢谢 老师! ❤️👍🏽🙏🏼

[@johnmofula]

❤ I had to stop what I was doing after I got your notification, wanted to see what else I could learn about 才and 就 because I know you always have something different and interesting to teach

[@midinette]

Very good! There are a lot of explanations that we can't find in other videos about this subject! Great work!

[@siew3970]

Brilliant video as usual, Shuo. I am hooked on your lessons. Each class is like having a live and memorable experience.

[@Garbaz]

Love the dedication you put into acting out the example situations :D

[@sheherezahade]

I was JUST learning this with my teacher when this video came out. The gods of jiu and cai are watching over us.

[@camerong9391]

I've come back to this video so many times. It is seriously the most helpful reminder ever

[@johngreenwich3344]

Thank you for another wonderful lesson ❤️

[@seansolar9067]

Such amazing explanations. You really break it all down with the mindset of an English speaker.

[@o1lillanjb]

I love your videos and content!! 😍😍 thank u for explaining the difference between 就 and 才 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@u2fergus]

Ahhhhhh!!!!! I have been trying to figure out this distinction through books for months and could never find an adequate explanation. You just made my whole week. 🤗🤗🤗

[@authordaisytorres2804]

This was very helpful, thank you!!

[@JP-ku5hw]

I enjoyed watching the video. Keep going!

[@DSmithChengdu]

I have been trying to learn this for 3 years now. Best explanations yet. So clear and thorough. Thanks ShuoShuo!

[@lindsayrendall]

❤️ thanks- very helpful as always.

[@milkycloud.]

Literally love my Chinese teacher at uni. He explained all these concepts so well and it's very easy to understand.

[@springflood9041]

Thank you so much, a great video 💗

[@khaledqutub5849]

Thank you for this great video lesson 😊

[@cmcgtube]

Clarifying video as usual. Stage acting also captivating👍👍👏👏👏

[@sararoson5730]

非常感谢你！ 我认为你的语法解释很棒，例子有很大帮助. Gracias, muchas gracias por su trabajo y ayuda ,,❤️

[@anasmirza346]

i like this video this video is very useful shuo shuo my favorite teacher

[@Mickey42141]

讲得非常不错！多谢老师

[@GuilhermeMendes-zb1pc]

你就是最好的中文老师！❤️

[@jarsten9232]

谢谢老师！

[@silverbaby.]

Finalllllyyyyy!!!!! My concept got cleared yehhhhh😀😀

[@dreamxpaili]

as a native chinese speaker i still can't explain when to use theses two words! great explanations!

[@Sora-dg5qt]

好好的视频！感谢！😎

[@maru3906]

❤️❤️❤️❤️👍 Really good explanation.

[@leonchan380]

哇，老师讲得好棒，例子很实用很到位。作为一个中国人，平时还真没注意到这两个字这么复杂哈哈。

[@leanorombaba6287]

Thanks for teaching us. :)

[@petercawaing]

I really had a good laugh because of your sense of humor.

[@kelvin9209]

这个视频的内容非常非常有利 太谢谢你 请制作这样的视频 对我有很多帮助

[@dougl409]

Great lesson ♥♥

[@genace]

Thank you. Another heart ->❤️

[@AshinAsia]

Great lesson.

[@carmelofernandez9020]

你是一位伟大的老师。 来自委内瑞拉加拉加斯的感谢。

[@thisismycoolnickname]

6:26 That explanation sounds exactly like the topic/comment difference, exactly like in Japanese は vs が.

[@darrylkassle361]

You are so beautiful. After watching a few videos I realise your English is also above average. You pronounce your words very clear. I think you are better served being a teacher than a doctor. Why do something if you are not passionate about it??? It can be soul destroying no matter how prestigious the occupation. . Do what makes you happy I say!!!😃😃😃😃😃😃😃

[@trtlphnx]

Very Nice; Good Delineation Sweetie ~

[@iZenZation]

Thanks!

[@brianbellerose1311]

谢谢 ❤️

[@MrZooganopolos]

Thanks again for some great clarification on another well put together video! Now to get a few things done around here and then study various things this evening.

[@JasielMontes14]

Gracias!!

[@panpannn.]

谢谢你这个视频超好用 ❤️ 我学这两个词的时候觉得我懂他们的用法了，但是看中国电视剧就知道我不懂哈哈哈哈哈

[@tomski_w]

谢谢

[@sherlychristianty1616]

非常感谢我给你一个赞

[@curoli]

Even if I would give up on learning Chinese, I would still watch Shuo's videos, because she is so smart and funny, it always makes my day. And today we learned that, while Shuo's makeup is usually perfect, she already looks great when she gets up in the morning.

[@ShuoshuoChinese]

Aww, thanks! But don’t give up on learning Chinese haha🤣

[@curoli]

@@ShuoshuoChinese Haha, I have no plans to give up just yet! It's a lot of fun, and very relevant: since grad school, I have had plenty of Chinese friends and colleagues, and a handful of non-Chinese who were fluent in Chinese. And here in Boston, we now even have a Chinese woman mayor. 😄

[@riverzhang9571]

解释的好好啊

[@SrChatty]

又一个很有意思和这么有用的视频啦！谢谢老师! 🙏 (其实我找了讲这些差别的内容很久!🙂) 才有一个事儿。。。那个"emoji"的发音，不是"e-moj", 而是"e-mo-ji" (最后的音节跟汉语二声差不多)。

[@threecoinsinthefount]

Excellent but I'd advise you to revise the video at least 3 times to ensure you have mastered all the sentences .I will revise the sentences another 10 times.

[@victoriakiil5198]

YOO she a queen for teaching my dumb brain

[@igorgoga7985]

amazing ! May I pls suggest (as a teacher too) a very friendly and positive suggestion as being from Eastern Europe, I have the same problem between I fill and I feel - fillings vs feelings (long eee vs short I (like in fit)

[@kendo512]

lmao 4:22 made me laugh, especially when you look at the guys username

[@monicakayafa8904]

Wonderful video. Could you please make one for the differences between 还是 & 或者 🙏

[@akifansari7698]

还是 is for questions only and 或者 is for statements only. Ex: 我应该买这个还是那个？ (wǒ yīng gāi maǐ zhè gè haí shì nà gè?) meaning “should i buy this or that?” 我会带这个或者那个。(wǒ huì daì zhē gè huò zhě nà gè) meaning “I will bring this or that.”

[@ylpathi]

nice

[@karabogaz]

interesting difference, I wonder whether the same may happen in some other language... as a concept, the closest it comes to my mind is in English, when adding the negation, compare: "he is as tall as you" vs "he is not so smart as you"

[@tractusmonkey7766]

her makeup skill has improved

[@tososhin]

Such a helpful video! I wondered why 了 was used with 就 for years. Thank you for the clear explanation. Regarding use of 才 to emphasize just now, when would one use 才 and when would one use 刚? Or are they interchangeable?

[@SrChatty]

Although my Chinese really is 够不好, I think 刚 most often can be translated into "recently", whilst 才 very often (or even generally, as 说说老师 seems to be saying in this video) emphasises a *subjective* perspectice, typically expressing depreciation or even dissatisfaction. One can probably(?, like I said, my Chinese really isn't that good) find a similar relationship/analogy between 只, when mening "only", and the most often subjectively focused meanings of "only" expressed by the 就/才 pair.

[@chineseatdawn5744]

Hi, there's no big difference between 才 & 刚 when both of them indicate the thing just happened not long ago. For example, 我才/刚起床。 You can even say 我才刚刚起床。 But 才 has a function which 刚 doesn't have - 才 can indicate that something happened or was done much later than expected or what it was supposed to be. For example, 我们说好了九点见面，你怎么才来啊？（let's suppose it's already 10:00） You came much later than the agreed time! Perhaps you'll have to distinguish 刚才 & 刚刚. 刚才 is a noun of time, while 刚（刚）is an adverb of time. 我刚才/刚刚去了超市。Both 刚才 & 刚刚 are ok. I went to the supermarket just now. 刚才的电话是谁打给你的？ Only 刚才 can be used here. (because the structure is __ + 的 + noun) Who called you just now? (the phone call you received just now is from whom) Hope it can help you!

[@user-bj3io7df5r]

Loveee

[@hashiembehsoody343]

❤我爱你

[@hannabouttros172]

Although your explanations here are of great help, it is still not entirely clear as to how to or when to use one or the other. Now, of course, I certainly need to practice more, in order to be able to integrate the difference. This is certainly one of the most difficult point of Chinese Grammar to master!

[@perfectstudents8361]

It helps to replay the video a few times. That's how I get a better understanding.

[@hannabouttros172]

Yes, it is one of the most difficult and if one is not Chinese, nearly impossible to learn!

[@paulwilton7860]

❤️

[@RyGuy36]

Question: Why do we use 就 in 。。。就好了 when saying "...will be okay" ?

[@ponlatepp.4056]

才听老师，我就懂了。

[@user-vo7xw7ro1q]

这里用'刚'更native

[@GenjiehInChina]

can you make video about 当？i don‘t understand what 当 means

[@issolomissolom3589]

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@GradyGillis]

Oddly, the only usage I had learned before this was the second one.

[@karunakumari3657]

❤❤❤

[@joeldiao3215]

I never thought Chinese is so difficult. I just speak without thinking about these rules as native language. On the other hand, I have to think before I speak in English sometimes.

[@desikachan]

Can you make a video about the different betwenn 经历，经验，and 体验？ Thank you

[@lazymonkey8259]

经历强调过程，经验强调整体，体验强调过程中人主观的感受

[@jojolucky6152]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@user-gj3do9eo6l]

谢谢你的解释❤ 我现在才明白“就”和“才”的区别。写得对吗哈哈哈

[@jonalynitorma9152]

Yey for the first time

[@sinfuldavy0]

Timestamp 5:10 who else are you going to watch the movie with this evening

[@ShuoshuoChinese]

Thanks!

[@user-ko5im5uu5c]

what is the different between "Zhiyao" and "Zhiyou"??????

[@sadakkumarbamjan7976]

💜💜💜👍

[@akashpandey4875]

❤️🥰

[@thomasrowe6073]

对不起，我第一次忘了发给你心 💛 多谢啦

[@user-nw1sl3vh1p]

请问 血 第一声和第四声有什么区别？

[@mountaintag]

其他老师的视频有点无聊。 Shuoshuo老师的视频 “才” 是有趣的。 最初几秒以后我 “就” 看得哈哈开心。 :-)

[@k-sp9583]

老师我请问你一下 我才学一年中文，不会那么多。和我才学了一年中文，不会那么多。哪一个对?🙏🙏🙏

[@amekanasai]

我才学了一年中文 == this is correct because the 了 here indicates past tense, "you have only LEARNT", so is "学了"

[@mr88cet]

阿哈！我不常常用你“才”的第一用法。 应该将来试着用！好多次听了可是不常常自己用。但是“刚才”是我常用的。 (Just a minor English thought for you: I would more likely say “late or with difficulty” rather than “late or difficult,” since “difficult” is an adjective.)

[@MrZooganopolos]

Only half joking here... seek wisdom, not intelligence. Intelligence alone is apt to end up some guy who makes you feel miserable about nothing, or things you shouldn't, perhaps cheating on you behind your back, or taking from you without your noticing. Wisdom knows why not to do that kind of thing to other people and the value you have for that person and humanity. A mix of wisdom and intelligence is also not a bad combo! You're right though (and wise) in knowing that physical beauty is not as important as other things -- especially given aging.

[@russian69tw]

老师好！真不好意思打扰一下！请问，‘他结婚不久，才发觉自己娶的是一个泼妇。’这个句子语法是正确吗？谢谢！

[@leothelion6075]

Wait... at 4:21 you actually quoted from someone named "Pusseydestroya 69"?????

[@ShuoshuoChinese]

lol, I didn’t notice their name

[@elizangelatsai231]

你 一 发 视频 我 就 看 了。

[@user-uv2cr2up2b]

汉语用不着空格

[@fruitlessbeast]

[heart emoji here]

[@AdamDylanMajor]

我就成很聪明。我才成很聪明。Either is correct, right?

[@amekanasai]

both are incorrect, both sentences make no sense, what are you trying to say...?

[@sher8022]

my dumbass read the thumbnail and thought of garlic chieves

[@deadlift]

I thought she was going to talk about dumplings ...

[@pwetmo9655]

eyy I have cai in my chinese name that my principal gave me

[@laustinspeiss]

Cai comes from India, Jew from Israel.

[@Scho229]