C

cā 擦 V clean or erase by wiping or rubbing ■ 窗户 脏了，要擦一下。Chuānghu zāng le, yào cā yíxià.
The window is dirty and needs cleaning. ■ 我的自 行车太脏了，我要把它擦干净。Wǒ de
zìxíngchē tài zāng le, wǒ yào bǎ tā cā gānjing. My bike is dirty. I’ll wipe it clean.
cāi 猜 V guess ■“谁来了？你猜猜看。”“我猜不 着。告诉我吧。“Shéi lái le? Nǐ cāicai kàn.”
“Wǒ cāi bu zháo. Gàosu wǒ ba.” “Guess who’s come!” “I can’t. Just tell me.”
cái 才¹ TRAD 纔 ADV 1 (before a verb) a short time ago, just ■ 我才来，不知道这件事。Wǒ cái lái, bù
zhīdào zhè jiàn shì. I’ve just arrived and don’t know anything about this matter. ■ 我才认识他，
对他还不了解。Wǒ cái rènshi tā, duì tā hái bù liǎojiě. I came to know him not long ago, and I
don’t know him very well. 2 (used before a word of time or quantity to indicate that the speaker feels
the time is too early, too short or the quantity is too little), only, as early as, as few/little as ■ 我 学中
文才一年，说得不好。Wǒ xué Zhōngwén cái yīnián, shuō de bù hǎo. I’ve learned Chinese for
only one year, and can’t speak it very well. ■ 这本 书才十块钱，太便宜了。Zhè ben shū cái shí
kuài qián, tài piányi le. This book is only ten dollars. It’s really cheap. 3 (used after a word of time
to indicate that the speaker feels the time is too late or there is too much delay), as late as ■ 这个小孩
三岁才会走。 Zhège xiǎo hái sānsuì cái huì zǒu. This child learned to walk as late as three years
old. ■ 妈妈等到孩子都回来了才睡觉。Māma děngdào háizi dōu huílai le, cái shuìjiào. Mother
did not go to bed until all her children came home.
cái 才² N talent, remarkable ability
cáigàn 才干 N talent, competence 有才干 yǒu cáigàn capable and talented
cái 财 TRAD 財 N wealth, property
cáichǎn 财产 [comp: 财 property, fortune + 产 property] N property, belongings ■ 国家保护合法 的个
人财产。Guójiā bǎohù héfǎ de gèrén cáichǎn. The state protects legitimate private property. ■ 这
是我的个人财产，你们不能动。Zhè shì wǒ de gèrén cáichǎn, nǐmen bù néng dòng. These are my
personal belongings. You can’t touch them.
cáifù 财富 [comp: 财 property, fortune + 富 riches] N wealth, fortune
cáiwù 财务 [modif: 财 finance, wealth + 务 affair] N financial affairs, finance 财务部门 cáiwù bùmén
department(s) of finance (in a company or institution) / 财务主任 cáiwù zhǔrèn director of finance (in a
company or institution)
cáizhèng 财政 [modif: 财 finance, wealth + 政 governance] N public finance 财政部 cáizhèng bù the
Ministry of Finance / 财政年度 cáizhèng niándù fiscal year
cái 材 N material
cáiliào 材料 N 1 materials, e.g. steel, timber, plastic ■ 建筑材料越来越贵，房子的造价也就越 来越
贵。Jiànzhù cáiliào yuèlaiyuè guì, fángzi de zàojià yě jiù yuèlaiyuè guì. As building materials
become more and more expensive, building houses also becomes more and more expensive. 2 data
(for a thesis, a report, etc.) ■ 报上提供的 材料对我写文章很有帮助。Bào shang tígòng de
cáiliào duì wǒ xiě wénzhāng hěn yǒu bāngzhù. The data provided in the newspapers are very
helpful to my writing.
cái 裁 V 1 cut into parts, cut down 2 judge, decide
cáifeng 裁缝 [comp: 裁 cut + 缝 sew] N tailor, dressmaker
cáipàn 裁判 [comp: 裁 arbitrate + 判 judge] I V 1 (in law) adjudicate, judge 2 (in sports) act as referee or
umpire II N 1 adjudication, decision made by the court 2 referee, umpire (位 wèi, 名míng) 当裁判 dāng
cáipàn act as a referee ■ 裁判不公 平，引起观众不满。Cáipàn bùgōngpíng, yǐnqǐ guānzhòng
bùmǎn. The referee was unfair and it made the audience unhappy. 裁判员 cáipànyuán same as 裁判
cáipàn II 2
cáiyuán 裁员 [v+obj: 裁 cut down + 员 staff] V cut down staff, lay off