<p>只 is equivalent to "only", a small amount. You would use it to say something like "I have only five bucks", "he's only two years old". </p>

<p>才 is used if you have to have a minimum amount. Examples: "you must be this tall (or taller) to ride", "you have to wait three minutes (or longer)".</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-13T05:28:27.627Z
I like the breakdown, but an example in Chinese for 只 and 才 would be nice.
Philipp
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-05T15:16:40.660Z
"He's only two years old." would be 他才两岁 in Chinese, the example doesn't work.
imrek
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-06T11:25:51.867Z
2015-09-06T11:25:51.867Z
Matthias Benjamin Schönborn
<p>He has 3 apples, but I just 1:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>他有3个苹果，但我“才”1个。<br />
他有3个苹果，但我“只有”1个。</p>
</blockquote>
<p>“才” is stronger than “只”，“才”1个 means that you hope you can get more apples. “只有”1个 just says you have one, with no other meaning.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2015-09-09T16:10:10.397Z
2020-08-05T14:05:22.563Z
2020-08-05T14:05:22.563Z
ooooh326
<p>All these explanations come from:</p>

<p><a href="http://forum.wordreference.com/threads/%E6%89%8D-%E5%8F%AA-%E5%B0%B1-to-emphasise-small-amounts.1921000/" rel="nofollow">http://forum.wordreference.com/threads/%E6%89%8D-%E5%8F%AA-%E5%B0%B1-to-emphasise-small-amounts.1921000/</a>
  《</p>

<p>"只"
If you use 只(only), that means the amount is little. It's just an objective description.</p>

<p>"才"
...you'll see that used in the sense of "more than expected", 才 follows the amount or time; [b]
and if 才 precedes the amount or time, the amount or time has the sense of "less than expected". [a]</p>

<p>1.a 从这里到邮局才三分钟 (才 precedes the amount of time)
1.b 车开了三十分钟才到。(才 follows the amount of time)</p>

<p>2.a 我们去玩儿了两天，才花了一百块 (才 precedes the amount of money )
2.b 我一共花了三百块才买到这个。(才 follows the amount of money)</p>

<p>》</p>

<ul>
<li>And I would add for example 2b :
we can also consider that 才 precedes the amount of purchased goods (这个) so the meaning is also "less goods than expected"</li>
</ul>

<p>wordreference, same link again :
《 However, if we look at the word 只, usage is possible in the following manner:
从这里到邮局只需要三分钟 -- need to add in words like 需要, 用.//
我们去玩儿了两天，只花了一百块。》</p>

<ul>
<li>more objective, less feelings
.
Beware , concerning the other sentences,    只买  只到 would not be correct. 
It's definitely  才买  才到  .</li>
</ul>

<p>frequently used :
 只有 the amount is little
 只是 the level is low</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-16T05:50:19.413Z
I feel like 'budding' can also work for 才.  With two meanings of 'talented' (as in budding actress) and 'only just' (as in budding plant).  I came to that conclusion because the etymology of the character is a seed sprouting from the ground meaning 'to bud'.
LegendLength
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-31T12:34:18.943Z
2015-05-31T21:52:14.597Z
2015-05-31T21:52:14.597Z
bymyself learning
<p>What's the difference between 只 and 才?  When should I use 只 and when 才?</p>
<p>Can you give me some examples please?</p>

<usage><difference><adverbs>
What's the difference between 只 and 才？
# What's the difference between 只 and 才？

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-05-24)

What's the difference between 只 and 才? When should I use 只 and when 才?

Can you give me some examples please?

**Tags:** usage, difference, adverbs


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-09-06. Score: 2

只 is equivalent to "only", a small amount. You would use it to say something like "I have only five bucks", "he's only two years old".

才 is used if you have to have a minimum amount. Examples: "you must be this tall (or taller) to ride", "you have to wait three minutes (or longer)".

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: I like the breakdown, but an example in Chinese for 只 and 才 would be nice.  
> **username_3**: "He's only two years old." would be 他才两岁 in Chinese, the example doesn't work.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2015-09-09. Score: 2

He has 3 apples, but I just 1:

> 他有3个苹果，但我“才”1个。  
> 他有3个苹果，但我“只有”1个。

“才” is stronger than “只”，“才”1个 means that you hope you can get more apples. “只有”1个 just says you have one, with no other meaning.


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### Answer by username_5 on 2015-05-31. Score: 1

All these explanations come from:

<http://forum.wordreference.com/threads/%E6%89%8D-%E5%8F%AA-%E5%B0%B1-to-emphasise-small-amounts.1921000/>
《

"只"
If you use 只(only), that means the amount is little. It's just an objective description.

"才"
...you'll see that used in the sense of "more than expected", 才 follows the amount or time; [b]
and if 才 precedes the amount or time, the amount or time has the sense of "less than expected". [a]

1.a 从这里到邮局才三分钟 (才 precedes the amount of time)
1.b 车开了三十分钟才到。(才 follows the amount of time)

2.a 我们去玩儿了两天，才花了一百块 (才 precedes the amount of money )
2.b 我一共花了三百块才买到这个。(才 follows the amount of money)

》

* And I would add for example 2b :
  we can also consider that 才 precedes the amount of purchased goods (这个) so the meaning is also "less goods than expected"

wordreference, same link again :
《 However, if we look at the word 只, usage is possible in the following manner:
从这里到邮局只需要三分钟 -- need to add in words like 需要, 用.//
我们去玩儿了两天，只花了一百块。》

* more objective, less feelings
  .
  Beware , concerning the other sentences, 只买 只到 would not be correct.
  It's definitely 才买 才到 .

frequently used :
只有 the amount is little
只是 the level is low

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: I feel like 'budding' can also work for 才.  With two meanings of 'talented' (as in budding actress) and 'only just' (as in budding plant).  I came to that conclusion because the etymology of the character is a seed sprouting from the ground meaning 'to bud'.  

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