Words and phrases:
線上 - xiànshàng - online
確定 - quèdìng - certain
才 - cái - Very roughly translated as "only" -- This word indicates a condition that must be fulfilled or a number or amount that is less or later than expected, among other things. It's best learned through context:
- Example 1: 西瓜好便宜!一顆才100塊!
- Xīguā hǎo piányí! Yī kē cái 100 kuài!
- Watermelons are so cheap! Only 100 NT per 顆 (kē - a measure word for round things).
- Example 2: 他要打給我,我才會跟他說
- Tā yào dǎ gěi wǒ, wǒ cái huì gēn tā shuō
- Only if he calls me will I tell him.
- Example 3: 我昨天才知道你結婚了!
- Wǒ zuótiān cái zhīdào nǐ jiéhūnle!
- I only knew yesterday that you got married!
- Example 4: 我才不相信!
- Wǒ cái bù xiāngxìn!
- I don't believe you! (the 才 in this case gives emphasis)
These examples in no way cover the range of ways 才 is used. Again, it's best learned through context by understanding the sense of the whole phrase. Also worth noting that it has a counterpart, 就 (jiù) which very roughly translates as "just" and indicates conditions that are easier than expected, or numbers or amounts that are more than expected or earlier than expected.
- 你現在要去哪?
- Nǐ xiànzài yào qù nǎ?
- Where are you going now?
- 我要去買禮物
- Wǒ yào qù mǎi lǐwù
- I'm going to buy presents.
- 送給女朋友嗎?
- sòng gěi nǚ péngyǒu ma?
- To give to your girlfriend?
- 不是,要送給我的家人
- Bùshì, yào sòng gěi wǒ de jiārén
- No, to give to my family.
- 是哦!你要買什麼?
- shì ó! Nǐ yāomǎi shénme?
- Oh! What are you going to buy?
- 我還不知道,現在很多店都關了!
- Wǒ hái bù zhīdào, xiànzài hěnduō diàn dōu guānle!
- I don't know yet, a lot of shops are closed now.
- 線上買呢?
- Xiànshàng mǎi ne?
- What about buying online?
- 可是我覺得我要看到、摸到才能確定
- Kěshì wǒ juédé wǒ yào kàn dào, mō dào cáinéng quèdìng
- But I have to see them and feel them to really be sure.
- 也是... 送茶葉呢?
- yěshì... Sòng cháyè ne?
- True that... what about giving tea?
- 他們不太懂喝茶
- Tāmen bù tài dǒng hē chá
- They don't really appreciate tea.
- 那... 鳳梨酥呢?
- nà... Fènglí sū ne?
- Then... how about pineapple cake?
- 已經送過太多次了
- Yǐjīng sòngguò tài duō cìle
- I've already given it too many times.
- 是哦... 買禮物真的很不簡單!
- shì ó... Mǎi lǐwù zhēn de hěn bù jiǎndān!
- Oh... buying presents really isn't easy!
- 你看我買的貼紙!
- Nǐ kàn wǒ mǎi de tiēzhǐ!
- Look at the stickers I bought!
- 狗狗的貼紙好可愛!
- Gǒu gǒu de tiēzhǐ hǎo kě'ài!
- The dog stickers are so cute!
- 還有這個貼紙
- Hái yǒu zhège tiēzhǐ
- There's also this sticker.
- 禁止吸煙?
- jìnzhǐ xīyān?
- Smoking prohibited?