就 / Essence of Mandarin

 

 
 
_THIS IS A TESTING BETA VERSION OF THE SITE_
 

Condition (or action) A is fulfilled, action B follows

In the first part of a sentence we say what was, is or needs to be fulfilled, so that action B in the second part of a sentence can take place.

In the second sentence with 就 /jiù/ we say what action followed or will follow.

EXAMPLES

If you don't want to go, then don't go.
你 不 想 去 就 别 去！
Nǐ bùxiǎng qù jiù bié qù.
The more (time) you study, the better the results.
你 学习 的 时间 越 多，成就 就 越 好 了。
Nǐ xuéxí de shíjiān yuè duō, chéngjiù jiù yuè hǎo le.
成 BECOME 间 SPACE 时 TIME
After we finish the class we will go to work.
我们 下 了 课 就 要 去 上班。
Wǒmen xià le kè jiù yào qù shàngbān.
UP AND DOWN
When one lacks self-confidence, then he (she) can't solve complex problems.
缺乏 自信 就 无法 解决 复杂 的 问题。
Quēfá zìxìn jiù wúfǎ jiějué fùzá de wèntí.
WORDS 信 SIMPLE - COMPLICATED
If you like it then buy it.
你 喜欢 就 买 吧！
Nǐ xǐhuan jiù mǎi ba
You can go to play after you finish your homework.
你 完成 你的 作业， 就 可以 去 玩。
Nǐ wánchéng nǐ de zuòyè, jiù kěyǐ qù wán.
成 BECOME

 

Time passed, action follows

In the first part of the sentence we say how long time is needed for the action to take place.

Second part with 就 /jiù/ tells us what action will follow after the time is fulfilled.

EXAMPLES

It takes ten minutes to get there.
十 分钟 就 到 了。
Shí fēnzhōng jiù dào le.
TO ARRIVE

 

Space passed, action follows

In the first part of the sentence we say how long space needs to be crossed.

Second part with 就 /jiù/ tells us what action will follow after the space is crossed.

EXAMPLES

100 metres and (you) are there.
一百 米 就 到 了。
Yībǎi mǐ jiù dào le.
TO ARRIVE

 

Emphasis

EXAMPLES

We entered the information age long time ago.
我们 早就 进入 了 信息 时代。
Wǒmen zǎo jiù jìnrù le xìnxī shídài.
WORDS 信 TO ENTER
I’ve known this for a long time that this is an old traditional concept.
我 早 就 知道 这 是 旧的 传统 观念。
Wǒ zǎo jiù zhīdào zhè shì jiù de chuántǒng guānniàn.
NEW - OLD
I'm (just) loving it! - slogan of McDonald's
我 就 喜欢！
Wǒ jiù xǐhuan!

被 / “BY
让 / LET ME MAKE YOU ANGRY
GRAMMAR
MATERIALS