Adverbs 就 and 才
Adverbs 就 and 才 express the time, quantity and result relative to an action.
Time reference
就 
shows that the action happened sooner or faster than expected.
才 shows that the action happened later or slower than expected.
This evaluation is always subjective and refers to the personal attitude of the speaker towards a particular situation.
Both adverbs are placed before the verb.
shows that the action happened sooner or faster than expected.
才 shows that the action happened later or slower than expected.
This evaluation is always subjective and refers to the personal attitude of the speaker towards a particular situation.
Both adverbs are placed before the verb.Examples
我早上五点就起床了
I was already up at 5 a.m.
wǒ zǎoshang wǔ diǎn jiù qǐchuáng le
八点上课，他十点才来
The lesson starts at 8, and he came at 10 (I think it’s late)
bā diǎn shàngkè, tā shí diǎn cái lái
现在八点，我们八点半就出发
It's eight o'clock now, and we need to leave at half past eight (I think it’s soon)
xiànzài bā diǎn, wǒmen bā diǎn bàn jiù chūfā
他明天才来
He won’t come until tomorrow (I don’t think it’s soon)
tā míngtiān cái lái
Quantity or amount reference
就 expresses a large number or amount from the speaker’s point of view. In this case, it has the meaning of “as many as”.
才 expresses a small number or amount from the speaker’s point of view. In this case, it has the meaning of “only, only just”.
Examples
我一次就能吃五个冰淇淋
I can eat five ice cream scoops at once
wǒ yí cì jiù néng chī wǔ ge bīngjīlín
我十年才买了一辆车
I’ve only bought one car in ten years
wǒ shí nián cái mǎi le yí liàng chē
Task difficulty reference
就 shows that the task is seen by the speaker as easy or that the result was successful.
才 shows that the task is seen by the speaker as difficult or that the result was unsuccessful.
Examples
3个进球很容易就变成6个的
If you can score 3 goals, then you can easily score 6
sān ge jìnqiú hěn róngyì jiù biàn chéng liù ge de
我们五个人才完成了一个任务
It took five of us to complete one task
wǒmen wǔ ge rén cái wánchéng le yí ge rènwù
才 and 就 in the same sentence
才 and 就 in the same sentence can express a sequence of actions. The latter is seen as too soon/quick in relation to the former: “only ... and already ...”.
If there is only one subject, it is placed before 才.
If there are two subjects, the first subject is placed before 才, and the second subject is placed before 就.
Scheme
subject 1
才
predicate 1
(subject 2)
就
predicate 2
Examples
他才来半年中国就已经说得不错了
He only came to China 6 months ago and he already speaks well
tā cái lái bànnián zhōngguó jiù yǐjīng shuō de búcuò le
我才到家了，你就来找我
I’ve just come home and you are here already
wǒ cái dào jiā le, nǐ jiù lái zhǎo wǒ
We can use 刚 instead of 才 in the meaning of.
instead of 才 in the meaning of.Examples
刚来了就走？
You’ve just got here and are already leaving?
gāng lái le jiù zǒu