Usage of 才

才 cái .

1. 才 means not until, emphasis late/slow Sb + time + 才 +verb .

我今天早上9点才起床。
Wǒ jīntiān zǎoshàng 9 diǎn cái qǐchuáng.
He didn’t get up until 9am.

他早上10点才到公司。
Tā zǎoshàng 10 diǎn cái dào gōngsī.
He didn’t arrive at his company until 10am.

2. 才 means only. 才 + time/number

现在才晚上9点，你可以继续学习中文。
Xiànzài cái wǎnshàng 9 diǎn, nǐ kěyǐ jìxù xuéxí Zhōngwén.
It's only 9 pm, so you can continue your Chinese study.

什么？你的工资才三千？
Shénme? Nǐ de gōngzī cái sānqiān?
What? Your salary is only three thousands?

3. 才 means actually/really. 才+ adj/be/verb

Tim: 你很笨！
Nǐ hěn bèn!
You are stupid!

Sara: 你才笨！
Nǐ cái bèn!
You are the one who’s stupid!

Tim：你骗人！
Nǐ piàn rén!
You are lying!

Sara：你才骗人！
Nǐ cái piàn rén!
You are the one who’s lying.