CAI-3

('cai' in the third tone)

There are about 14 Chinese characters that are spoken 'cai'. The sound-determining element in about half of them is 采 = cai(3) = to pick. Another sound-determining element that occurs in several characters is 才 = cai(2) = ability.

采 = to pick

This word is in common use as single-character and morpheme.

别采花! = Bie(4) cai(3) hua(1)! = Don't pick flowers!

*****

彩 = a lot of color

你的衣服很彩. = Ni(3)de(-) yi(1)fu(-) hen(3) cai(3). = Your dress has lots of colors.

彩票 = cai(3)piau(4) = lottery ticket, lottery

中国体育彩票 = Zhong(1)guo(2) ti(3)yu(4) cai(3)piao(4) = China Sports Lottery

中国福利彩票 = Zhong(1)guo(2) fu(2)li(4) cai(3)li(4) = China Welfare Lottery