How to Say ‘We only put up the spring couplets yesterday.’ in Traditional Chinese
我們昨天才貼春聯。
wǒ men zuó tiān cái tiē chūn lián
[wo men dzwaw-tyen cái tiē chūnlián]
💬 Usage Tip: 才 (cái) placed before the action means it happened later than you might expect, so here "not until yesterday". The time word goes before it: 他今天才來 "he only came today".
Phrase Breakdown
我們昨天
wǒ men zuó tiān
we, yesterday
我們 (wǒmen, we) + 昨天 (zuótiān, yesterday). In Chinese, the time word usually comes right after the subject.
我們昨天去夜市。
We went to the night market yesterday.
Words in this phrase
我們
wǒ men
[wo men]
we; us
Refers to the speaker and their group, such as a team or company.
我們很重視新人的想法，所以歡迎提問。
We value new employees’ ideas very much, so questions are welcome.
昨天
zuó tiān
[dzwaw-tyen]
yesterday
昨天 means the day before today.
昨天我去參加職涯活動。
Yesterday I went to a career event.
才貼春聯。
cái tiē chūn lián
only just put up the spring couplets
才 (cái) means 'only just' or 'not until'. 貼 (tiē) means 'to stick' or 'to paste'. 春聯 (chūnlián) are the red New Year couplets hung by the door.
他晚上十點才回家。
He didn't get home until 10 p.m.
Words in this phrase
才
cái
[cái]
only then; not until
Indicates an action happens later than expected.
他十點才到。
He didn't arrive until ten.
貼
tiē
[tiē]
to paste; to stick
To attach something flat, like paper, onto a surface.
請把海報貼在牆上。
Please stick the poster on the wall.
春聯
chūn lián
[chūnlián]
Spring Festival couplets
Red paper strips with auspicious verses pasted on doors for Lunar New Year.
過年前大家都會買春聯。
Everyone buys spring couplets before the New Year.
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