only then; not until
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesadverb
only then; not until; just now
formalUsed in formal or literary contexts to indicate that an action or state only occurs after a certain condition is met or a period of time has passed. Often paired with time expressions or verbs of deliberation.
Zhēn斟
zhuó酌
zài再
sān三
，
fāng方
shǐ始
xià下
bǐ笔
。
After careful deliberation, he finally put pen to paper.
Xiàn现
zài在
zhòng种
de的
shù树
，
yào要
guò过
jǐ几
nián年
fāng方
shǐ始
jiàn见
xiào效
yì益
。
The trees planted now will not show benefits until a few years later.
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Dài待
yǔ雨
tíng停
hòu后
，
fāng方
shǐ始
qǐ启
chéng程
。
Only after the rain stopped did they set off.