适才

适才 is an adverb that means 'just now' or 'a moment ago.' It is used to refer to something that happened shortly before the current moment, often in a narrative context.

The character 适 (shì) originally meant 'suitable' or 'appropriate,' but in this compound, it contributes to the sense of timing. 才 (cái) is an archaic term for 'moment' or 'time,' and together they form a phrase indicating a recent past time.

适才 is commonly used in formal or written Chinese, especially in news reports or historical texts. It can also appear in spoken language, though more commonly in older generations or in certain regional dialects. It is often contrasted with 之前 (zhīqián), meaning 'before,' to emphasize the immediacy of an event.