才 (cái) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 才 (cái) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 才 (cái) means "Talent, or 'only then', or 'just now'.". It is an HSK Level 2 character, with 3 strokes and the radical 扌.

Q: How do you write 才 stroke by stroke?

才 has 3 strokes. The radical is 扌. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 才 and 扌?

才 (cái) and 扌 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 才?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 扌. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 才?

Common words containing 才 include: 刚才 (gāng cái) — just now / a moment ago; 天才 (tiān cái) — Genius / Talent; 才华 (cái huá) — talent.

How to Write 才

The character 才 (cái) is written with 3 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 扌 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

才 is pronounced cái in Mandarin Chinese. It means Talent, or 'only then', or 'just now'..

As an HSK Level 2 character, 才 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 才

刚才 gāng cái

just now / a moment ago

天才 tiān cái

Genius / Talent

才华 cái huá

talent

Example Sentences

他刚才出去了。

tā gāng cái chū qù le

He just went out.

他是一个数学天才。

tā shì yí gè shù xué tiān cái

He is a math genius.

他很有才华。

tā hěn yǒu cái huá 。

He is very talented.

Similar Characters

扌 shou

扎 zā

扑 pū

Practice Writing 才 (cái)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 才 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 才

What does 才 (cái) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 才 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 才 and 扌?

What mistakes do learners make writing 才?

What common words use 才?

How to Write 才 (cái)