如何翻譯“才”

“才”，作為副詞，在字典裡有兩個義項：僅僅、沒有，直到。僅僅又具有強調的意思。

本文不用just這個詞，因為已經被濫用了。

僅僅 only
– 這孩子才五歲。The body is only five years old.

強調 actually, really, absolutely, instead
– A：你是白痴！B：你才是白痴！You are an idiot! No, you are an idiot instead! / you are actually an idiot / you are really an idiot.
– 我不是老师，她才是老師。I’m not a teacher, but she is a teacher instead!
– 我不是Peter，他才是Peter。I’m not Peter. He is the Peter.

沒有，直到 not until
– 我才知道。I haven’t known it (until now). I haven’t heard it (until now). Only now do I know it.
– 他才剛剛從香港到。He only arrived yesterday.

References

• core-corner. 中文裡的「才」，英文怎麼說？. . 2012-01-19 [2026-02-13].
• . “才是” English translation?. reddit. 2022-03-01 [2026-02-13].
• . 才的解释. 漢典. [2026-02-13].