Meaning:

ability; talent; just; only

Origin:

甲骨文中，“才”的横画表示地面，草木的嫩芽正从地下向上萌发，本义是草木最开始的样子，现有也有“才能”、“刚刚”的意思。

On ancient oracle bone inscriptions, the horizontal stroke of “才” represented the ground and a plant sprouting through the soil. Its original meaning was the shape of a young plant, and today it also means “ability” and “just.”

Words:

    刚才   (gāngcái)  : just now

    天才   (tiāncái)    : genius

    才能   (cáinéng)  : ability

    才华   (cáihuá)    : talent; brilliance

    才干   (cáigàn)    : talent; ability

Examples:

1. 你刚才去哪儿了？到处都找不到你。

    Nǐ gāngcái qù nǎr le? Dàochù dōu zhǎo búdào nǐ

    Where were you just now? I couldn’t find you anywhere

2. 中国人有句俗语，叫做“天才出于勤奋”。

    ZhōngGuó rén yǒu jù súyǔ, jiàozuò “tiāncái chū yú qínfèn ”

    Chinese people have an old saying that goes, “Genius comes from hard work.”