Ideographic: A sprout growing in the ground, representing a budding talentRadical:

meaning for cái:

  • - ability
  • - talent
  • - sb of a certain type
  • - a capable individual
  • - then and only then
  • - just now
  • - (before an expression of quantity) only
  • - a moment ago
  • - just now
  • - (indicating sth happening later than expected)
  • - (after a condition or reason) then and only then
  • - (before an expression of quantity) onlytalent
  • - talented person
  • - looks
  • - attractive lookstalent
  • - ability
  • - capacityjust now
  • - a moment ago(just) a moment agojust now
  • - then

xiǎomíng小明
cái
16
suì

Xiao Ming is only 16 years old


cái
kāishǐ开始
xué
zhōngwén中文

I have just begun learning Chinese


hòulái后来
cái
míngbai明白
de
cuòwù错误

Later, I understood my mistake.


hòulái后来
cái
zhīdào知道
shì
míng
gēshǒu歌手

I later found out that she was a famous singer.


shuì
le
hěnjiǔ很久
cái
qǐlai起来

He slept for a long time before he got up.