<p>When I saw the sentence and not seeing the answer options yet, my first thought was 就 because &quot;... 很快就...&quot; normally goes together.</p>
<p>Seeing the options, and 就 is not there, it seems some strategic reasoning is needed.</p>
<p>So, assuming one is uncertain, a course of &quot;worst-option elimination&quot; exercise is required.</p>
<p>First, consider 才 in the sense of &quot;only&quot; / &quot;just&quot;</p>
<p>If this is the correct option, then the sentence would need to read, 他毕业以后很久才找到了一个理想的工作 So, 才 is out.</p>
<p>How about 可?</p>
<p>At first glance 可 is not too far off, as it expresses an ability to obtain an objective, which in this case is to get a job, any job.</p>
<p>But the sentence says, 理想的工作, meaning something more than just obtaining a job, but a job which is desirable or ideal.</p>
<p>Now, 便 has the added quality of not just something coming your way, but also &quot;easily&quot; and &quot;conveniently&quot;, which also fits in with 很快, (quickly).</p>
<p>So, between 可 and 便, I would opt for 便 as the safer bet.</p>
<p>Someone said to leave out all options altogether. Yes, but as an examination exercise, that option is therefore out because there is no &quot;None of the above&quot; option.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-26T08:21:56.670Z
2023-10-27T04:32:56.717Z
2023-10-27T04:32:56.717Z
Wayne Cheah
<p>Yes, you can skip the conjunction and the sentence still makes sense, but with a conjunction, the sentence would be easier to read (avoid run-on sentences) and the meaning of the sentence would slightly change.</p>
<p>便 is the correct choice here. It serves the same function as 就, which connects the two phrases by indicating the second phrase occurs shortly after or immediately after the first phrase happened</p>
<p>Example of conjunctions that affect the sentence :</p>
<p>我回家洗澡 - I go home to take a shower</p>
<p>我回家[便/就]洗澡 - I take a shower shortly after I get home/ I take a shower as soon as I get home</p>
<blockquote>
<p>他毕业以后很快 _____ 找到了一个理想的工作</p>
</blockquote>
<p>You can skip 便/就 here because 很快 (quickly) already indicated &quot;soon after&quot;.</p>
<p>If the sentence is: &quot;他毕业以后找到了一个理想的工作&quot; then you need 便 or 就 to indicate it happened very soon, not a year or a few years later</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-26T05:09:52.820Z
2023-10-26T05:18:38.110Z
2023-10-26T05:18:38.110Z
Tang Ho
<p>Both leaving blank and inserting 便 are correct.</p>
<p>In formal writing, 便 can be used as an equivalent of 就 or 即使. See 现代汉语词典第7版 p.81</p>
<p>不是刮风，便是下雨（= 不是刮风，就是下雨）</p>
<p>没有他的帮忙，任务便无法完成（= 任务就无法完成）</p>
<p>便是再大的困难，也能克服（= 即使有再大的困难）</p>
<p>可 is usually used to express capability or possibility, it is usually not followed by a 了 sentence. In oral language we say 可把我急死了 (= 我急死了) or 可愁死我了 (= 我愁死了), but that's clearly not the usage here.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-26T05:09:05.483Z
2023-10-26T05:15:05.660Z
2023-10-26T05:15:05.660Z
user2249675
<p>Language is not written in stone. (Well maybe sometimes!) And there is always more than 1 way to kill a cat.</p>
<p>That said, I think, if you ask 100 Chinese people, 99 would say, &quot;Use 就.&quot; But otherwise 便 would do.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-26T08:59:00.840Z
Yes, I am one of the 99, so +1. But, please don't kill a cat.
Nobody
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-26T07:51:33.260Z
2023-10-26T07:51:33.260Z
Pedroski
<p>(1) 他毕业以后很快<strong>就</strong>找到了一个理想的工作. <strong>就</strong> emphasizes the words 很快 and 了. It contrasts 过了很久<strong>才</strong>找到工作 or 过了很久<strong>还没有</strong>找到工作. In the two sentences, you do not use the word 了.</p>
<p>(2) 他毕业以后很快<strong>便</strong>找到了一个理想的工作. It is very close to (1). Here <strong>便</strong> indicates a subsequent result. For example, 接到妈妈的电话，他便回家了. He went home as soon as he received his mom's phone call.</p>
<p>(3) 他毕业以后很快<strong>可</strong>找到一个理想的工作. <strong>可</strong> means a probability. You could not use the word 了.</p>
<p>(4) 他毕业以后很久<strong>才</strong>找到一个理想的工作. With the word <strong>才</strong>, you can only say <strong>很久</strong>, but not <strong>很快</strong>. Here <strong>才</strong> is a negative adverb in a positive statement, which means something was not as good as originally expected. For example, 这么晚了，你才来呀。You indeed come, but it is very late.</p>
<p>The answer to your question is (2) 便. （才, 可, or 便）.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-26T14:01:41.827Z
2023-10-26T14:01:41.827Z
PdotWang
<p>Well, if you have to choose one from 才, 可, 便 to complete the sentence, the only choice is 便. 可 makes no sense here, and 才 doesn't fit.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-27T04:50:08.697Z
2023-10-27T04:50:08.697Z
fat penguin
<p>It's tricky that the character &quot;<strong>了</strong>&quot; in &quot;找到<strong>了</strong>&quot; is usually a sign of perfect tense, and you seldom use &quot;can&quot;(&quot;可&quot;) with a perfect tense verb except for subjunctive mood.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-27T12:37:22.393Z
Would you please provide an example of "use 可 for subjunctive mood?
PdotWang
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-30T01:49:38.883Z
@PdotWang 他毕业以后**本可**找到一个理想的工作。He **could** have found an ideal job after graduation.
Bowen Shen
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-30T11:40:14.500Z
Thank you for discussing. But I feel that, in your example, the word 本 (本来, 原本) is more important and there usually has another word 但 (但是, 不料).
PdotWang
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-27T11:55:27.893Z
2023-10-27T11:55:27.893Z
Bowen Shen
<p>'可' is not an option here, it just does not work.</p>
<p>'才' does not make sense because you said '很快', if you want to express 'he finally landed his first job, it was 2 years later after his graduation', you can say '他终于找到了他的第一份工作，那是他毕业两年之后了' '他毕业两年之后才找到了他的第一份工作', please notice '才' here.</p>
<p>What about '就' and '便', they both work in general, here is the difference, '就' is more like in casual, in speaking, you can hardly expect '便' in daily conversation between regular, normal people, '便' is preferable for literature, formal, article.</p>
<p>You can replace '就' with '便' <em>almost</em> anywhere, but <em><strong>NO</strong></em> vice versa, i.e.</p>
<ul>
<li>晴空一鹤排云上 便引诗情到碧霄 - 刘禹锡《秋词》</li>
<li>金风玉露一相逢 便胜却人间无数 - 秦观《鹊桥仙·纤云弄巧》</li>
<li>便纵有千种风情 更与何人说 - 柳永《雨霖铃·寒蝉凄切》</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-27T07:25:27.700Z
2023-10-27T07:25:27.700Z
http8086
<p>可以使用<code>就</code>或<code>便</code>字。很快和它们连读，很自然很贴切，其它组合都不通顺。</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-27T10:54:26.430Z
2023-10-27T10:54:26.430Z
showkey
<p>答案是<strong>便</strong></p>
<p><strong>才</strong>表示很艰难取得的成果</p>
<p><strong>便</strong>表示很顺利取得的成果</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-27T07:41:32.113Z
2023-10-27T07:41:32.113Z
Tao Wang
<p>This is on page 11 of the textbook New Practical Chinese Reader Textbook 5 (<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/npNBx.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">photo of original, p.11, #8</a>):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>他毕业以后很快 _____ 找到了一个理想的工作。</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And the given options for the blank are 才, 可, or 便.  Now I think it should be left empty, and I discussed it with ChatGPT, and ChatGPT also thinks it should be left empty.</p>
<p>The textbook chapter discussed 便, so I'm guessing that's the answer, but it feels awkward.  I don't like 才 since it seems to contradict the use of 很快.  I can't justify excluding 可.</p>
<p><strong>Question</strong>: Should the blank be filled with 才, 可, or 便?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-26T04:59:38.263Z
他毕业以后很快 _就_找到了一个理想的工作 is probably better than the other three, IMHO.
Nobody
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-26T23:32:33.343Z
这题呀，我是中国人，就填便。为什么？没有为什么。便的意思是“于是就”。
Lts Leo
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-27T00:16:49.583Z
Although many people answer 就, I prefer 便. No difference between them. 才 is different. If it takes a long time to find a job, you use 才.
joehua
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-29T08:59:18.993Z
I've put this question under protection based on the number of low-quality responses here (4/10 answers here say basically the same thing).
dROOOze
<grammar><word-choice>
Should the blank in 他毕业以后很快 _____ 找到了一个理想的工作 be filled with 才, 可, or 便?
# Should the blank in 他毕业以后很快 _____ 找到了一个理想的工作 be filled with 才, 可, or 便?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-10-26)

This is on page 11 of the textbook New Practical Chinese Reader Textbook 5 ([photo of original, p.11, #8](https://i.sstatic.net/npNBx.jpg)):

> 他毕业以后很快 \_\_\_\_\_ 找到了一个理想的工作。

And the given options for the blank are 才, 可, or 便. Now I think it should be left empty, and I discussed it with ChatGPT, and ChatGPT also thinks it should be left empty.

The textbook chapter discussed 便, so I'm guessing that's the answer, but it feels awkward. I don't like 才 since it seems to contradict the use of 很快. I can't justify excluding 可.

**Question**: Should the blank be filled with 才, 可, or 便?

**Tags:** grammar, word-choice

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 他毕业以后很快 _就_找到了一个理想的工作 is probably better than the other three, IMHO.  
> **username_2**: 这题呀，我是中国人，就填便。为什么？没有为什么。便的意思是“于是就”。  
> **username_3**: Although many people answer 就, I prefer 便. No difference between them. 才 is different. If it takes a long time to find a job, you use 才.  
> **username_4**: I've put this question under protection based on the number of low-quality responses here (4/10 answers here say basically the same thing).  

---

## 10 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2023-10-26. Score: 3

When I saw the sentence and not seeing the answer options yet, my first thought was 就 because "... 很快就..." normally goes together.

Seeing the options, and 就 is not there, it seems some strategic reasoning is needed.

So, assuming one is uncertain, a course of "worst-option elimination" exercise is required.

First, consider 才 in the sense of "only" / "just"

If this is the correct option, then the sentence would need to read, 他毕业以后很久才找到了一个理想的工作 So, 才 is out.

How about 可?

At first glance 可 is not too far off, as it expresses an ability to obtain an objective, which in this case is to get a job, any job.

But the sentence says, 理想的工作, meaning something more than just obtaining a job, but a job which is desirable or ideal.

Now, 便 has the added quality of not just something coming your way, but also "easily" and "conveniently", which also fits in with 很快, (quickly).

So, between 可 and 便, I would opt for 便 as the safer bet.

Someone said to leave out all options altogether. Yes, but as an examination exercise, that option is therefore out because there is no "None of the above" option.


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2023-10-26. Score: 2

Yes, you can skip the conjunction and the sentence still makes sense, but with a conjunction, the sentence would be easier to read (avoid run-on sentences) and the meaning of the sentence would slightly change.

便 is the correct choice here. It serves the same function as 就, which connects the two phrases by indicating the second phrase occurs shortly after or immediately after the first phrase happened

Example of conjunctions that affect the sentence :

我回家洗澡 - I go home to take a shower

我回家[便/就]洗澡 - I take a shower shortly after I get home/ I take a shower as soon as I get home

> 他毕业以后很快 \_\_\_\_\_ 找到了一个理想的工作

You can skip 便/就 here because 很快 (quickly) already indicated "soon after".

If the sentence is: "他毕业以后找到了一个理想的工作" then you need 便 or 就 to indicate it happened very soon, not a year or a few years later


---

### Answer by username_7 on 2023-10-26. Score: 2

Both leaving blank and inserting 便 are correct.

In formal writing, 便 can be used as an equivalent of 就 or 即使. See 现代汉语词典第7版 p.81

不是刮风，便是下雨（= 不是刮风，就是下雨）

没有他的帮忙，任务便无法完成（= 任务就无法完成）

便是再大的困难，也能克服（= 即使有再大的困难）

可 is usually used to express capability or possibility, it is usually not followed by a 了 sentence. In oral language we say 可把我急死了 (= 我急死了) or 可愁死我了 (= 我愁死了), but that's clearly not the usage here.


---

### Answer by username_8 on 2023-10-26. Score: 1

Language is not written in stone. (Well maybe sometimes!) And there is always more than 1 way to kill a cat.

That said, I think, if you ask 100 Chinese people, 99 would say, "Use 就." But otherwise 便 would do.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Yes, I am one of the 99, so +1. But, please don't kill a cat.  

---

### Answer by username_9 on 2023-10-26. Score: 1

(1) 他毕业以后很快**就**找到了一个理想的工作. **就** emphasizes the words 很快 and 了. It contrasts 过了很久**才**找到工作 or 过了很久**还没有**找到工作. In the two sentences, you do not use the word 了.

(2) 他毕业以后很快**便**找到了一个理想的工作. It is very close to (1). Here **便** indicates a subsequent result. For example, 接到妈妈的电话，他便回家了. He went home as soon as he received his mom's phone call.

(3) 他毕业以后很快**可**找到一个理想的工作. **可** means a probability. You could not use the word 了.

(4) 他毕业以后很久**才**找到一个理想的工作. With the word **才**, you can only say **很久**, but not **很快**. Here **才** is a negative adverb in a positive statement, which means something was not as good as originally expected. For example, 这么晚了，你才来呀。You indeed come, but it is very late.

The answer to your question is (2) 便. （才, 可, or 便）.


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### Answer by username_10 on 2023-10-27. Score: 1

Well, if you have to choose one from 才, 可, 便 to complete the sentence, the only choice is 便. 可 makes no sense here, and 才 doesn't fit.


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### Answer by username_11 on 2023-10-27. Score: 0

It's tricky that the character "**了**" in "找到**了**" is usually a sign of perfect tense, and you seldom use "can"("可") with a perfect tense verb except for subjunctive mood.

> **Comments:**
> **username_9**: Would you please provide an example of "use 可 for subjunctive mood?  
> **username_11**: @username_9 他毕业以后**本可**找到一个理想的工作。He **could** have found an ideal job after graduation.  
> **username_9**: Thank you for discussing. But I feel that, in your example, the word 本 (本来, 原本) is more important and there usually has another word 但 (但是, 不料).  

---

### Answer by username_12 on 2023-10-27. Score: 0

'可' is not an option here, it just does not work.

'才' does not make sense because you said '很快', if you want to express 'he finally landed his first job, it was 2 years later after his graduation', you can say '他终于找到了他的第一份工作，那是他毕业两年之后了' '他毕业两年之后才找到了他的第一份工作', please notice '才' here.

What about '就' and '便', they both work in general, here is the difference, '就' is more like in casual, in speaking, you can hardly expect '便' in daily conversation between regular, normal people, '便' is preferable for literature, formal, article.

You can replace '就' with '便' *almost* anywhere, but ***NO*** vice versa, i.e.

* 晴空一鹤排云上 便引诗情到碧霄 - 刘禹锡《秋词》
* 金风玉露一相逢 便胜却人间无数 - 秦观《鹊桥仙·纤云弄巧》
* 便纵有千种风情 更与何人说 - 柳永《雨霖铃·寒蝉凄切》


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### Answer by username_13 on 2023-10-27. Score: 0

可以使用`就`或`便`字。很快和它们连读，很自然很贴切，其它组合都不通顺。


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### Answer by username_14 on 2023-10-27. Score: 0

答案是**便**

**才**表示很艰难取得的成果

**便**表示很顺利取得的成果


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