<p>才 is <em>ability, talent</em> when used as a <em>noun</em>.</p>

<p>In your examples, however, it's used as <strong><em>adverb</em></strong>. The first 才 in 很多小朋友以为长大了以后才能自由自在 is used as the sense 1 below and the second 才 in 他们不知道，他们才是最自由自在的 is the sense 2 below.</p>

<blockquote>
  <ol>
  <li><p>表示只有在某种条件下，或由于某种原因、目的，然后怎么样。
  <em>由于抢救及时，这批图书才保存了下来</em>。</p></li>
  <li><p>强调确定的语气。多与语助词“呢”连用。</p></li>
  </ol>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-14T00:49:27.927Z
2018-10-14T00:49:27.927Z
dan
<p>In neither situation does「才」mean <em>talent</em> - it is quite easy to make a parsing mistake, especially in the first question referring to「才能」.</p>

<p>「才」is widely used as a phonetic loan (that is, not related to the meaning <em>talent</em>) in Modern Chinese meaning <em>only; only then</em>. This is why you may see alternative representations in some other texts, such as「纔」, which I'll use here.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>很多小朋友以爲長大了以後「纔」能自由自在。</p>
  
  <p>Many children think that, <strong>only after</strong> they grow up, they have the freedom to do as they wish.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The meaning is not comparable with「纔」omitted. In this situation, if「纔」is omitted native speakers will treat it as if「就」is omitted.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>很多小朋友以爲長大了以後「就」能自由自在。</p>
  
  <p>Many children think that they can have the freedom to do as they wish <strong>as soon as</strong> they grow up.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In the second question,「纔」similarly means <em>only</em>, and is used for emphasis.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>他們不知道，他們「纔」是最自由自在的。</p>
  
  <p>Little do they know, <strong>only</strong> they are the ones with the freedom.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The emphasis is on <em>only</em> the children having the freedom, and not anyone else.</p>

<hr>

<p>Since「才」(<em>talent</em>) is a noun, to avoid parsing「才」incorrectly, recognise that <em>talent/talented</em> is something that people <em>have</em> or <em>are</em>:</p>

<ul>
<li>他「有」才能 </li>
<li>他「是」天才</li>
</ul>

<p>Without「有」or「是」occurring before「才」, you're most likely looking at a meaning not related to <em>talent</em>. Of course,「剛才/剛纔」(<em>just a moment ago</em>) has nothing to do with <em>talent</em> either.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-14T00:09:30.157Z
2018-10-14T00:21:10.967Z
2018-10-14T00:21:10.967Z
dROOOze
<p>The page I followed on Instagram uploaded a picture complete with its caption that says :</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>很多小朋友以为长大了以后才能自由自在。他们不知道，他们才是最自由自在的。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>They also provide this translation :</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Many children think they can 自由自在 after they grow up. They don't know that actually, they are the one who is the most 自由自在.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>What I want to ask is, why do they use 才能 instead of 能? Isn't 才能 a noun? (Cmiiw).</p>

<p>Next, why do they put 才 between 他们 and 是? What does 才 mean here? Does it refer to the word "actually" in the translation? But doesn't 才mean "ability/talent"?</p>

<usage>
Why are the two 才s used in 很多小朋友以为长大了以后才能自由自在。他们不知道，他们才是最自由自在的?
# Why are the two 才s used in 很多小朋友以为长大了以后才能自由自在。他们不知道，他们才是最自由自在的?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-10-13)

The page I followed on Instagram uploaded a picture complete with its caption that says :

> 很多小朋友以为长大了以后才能自由自在。他们不知道，他们才是最自由自在的。

They also provide this translation :

> Many children think they can 自由自在 after they grow up. They don't know that actually, they are the one who is the most 自由自在.

What I want to ask is, why do they use 才能 instead of 能? Isn't 才能 a noun? (Cmiiw).

Next, why do they put 才 between 他们 and 是? What does 才 mean here? Does it refer to the word "actually" in the translation? But doesn't 才mean "ability/talent"?

**Tags:** usage


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-10-14. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

In neither situation does「才」mean *talent* - it is quite easy to make a parsing mistake, especially in the first question referring to「才能」.

「才」is widely used as a phonetic loan (that is, not related to the meaning *talent*) in Modern Chinese meaning *only; only then*. This is why you may see alternative representations in some other texts, such as「纔」, which I'll use here.

> 很多小朋友以爲長大了以後「纔」能自由自在。
>
> Many children think that, **only after** they grow up, they have the freedom to do as they wish.

The meaning is not comparable with「纔」omitted. In this situation, if「纔」is omitted native speakers will treat it as if「就」is omitted.

> 很多小朋友以爲長大了以後「就」能自由自在。
>
> Many children think that they can have the freedom to do as they wish **as soon as** they grow up.

In the second question,「纔」similarly means *only*, and is used for emphasis.

> 他們不知道，他們「纔」是最自由自在的。
>
> Little do they know, **only** they are the ones with the freedom.

The emphasis is on *only* the children having the freedom, and not anyone else.

---

Since「才」(*talent*) is a noun, to avoid parsing「才」incorrectly, recognise that *talent/talented* is something that people *have* or *are*:

* 他「有」才能
* 他「是」天才

Without「有」or「是」occurring before「才」, you're most likely looking at a meaning not related to *talent*. Of course,「剛才/剛纔」(*just a moment ago*) has nothing to do with *talent* either.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2018-10-14. Score: 4

才 is *ability, talent* when used as a *noun*.

In your examples, however, it's used as ***adverb***. The first 才 in 很多小朋友以为长大了以后才能自由自在 is used as the sense 1 below and the second 才 in 他们不知道，他们才是最自由自在的 is the sense 2 below.

> 1. 表示只有在某种条件下，或由于某种原因、目的，然后怎么样。
>    *由于抢救及时，这批图书才保存了下来*。
> 2. 强调确定的语气。多与语助词“呢”连用。


---

