What does 就 jiù mean?
「就 jiù」is a very common Chinese word. It can be hard to translate because its meaning changes depending on the sentence.
For beginners, you can first remember these common meanings:
- soon / right away: 馬上就、立刻就
- already / as early as: 以前就、早就
- then / in that case: 如果……就、只要……就、既然……就
- exactly / precisely: 就是
- only / just: 就、就只、就只有
- regarding / based on: 就這個主題來討論
「就」often helps show that something happens quickly, naturally, exactly, or as a result of a condition.
1. 馬上就 / 立刻就: right away
Use「就」with words like「馬上」or「立刻」to show that something will happen soon or immediately.
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 馬上 / 立刻 + 就 + Verb | will do something right away |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我馬上就走。 ♬ | wǒ mǎshàng jiù zǒu | I will leave right away. |
| 我立刻就去。 ♬ | wǒ lìkè jiù qù | I will go immediately. |
| 他現在就要走。 ♬ | tā xiànzài jiù yào zǒu | He is leaving right now. |
Without「就」, the sentence can still be correct, but「就」makes the timing feel more immediate.
2. Action 1 + 後，就 + Action 2
Use「就」to show that one action happens right after another action.
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Action 1 + 後，就 + Action 2 | after action 1, action 2 happens right away |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 看到他的前女友後，他立刻就走了。 ♬ | kàndào tā de qián nǚyǒu hòu, tā lìkè jiù zǒu le | After seeing his ex-girlfriend, he left immediately. |
| 我吃完飯後，就去睡覺了。 ♬ | wǒ chī wán fàn hòu, jiù qù shuìjiào le | After I finished eating, I went to sleep. |
「就」makes the second action feel direct, quick, or natural after the first action.
3. 以前就 / 早就: already before
Use「就」with time words like「以前」or「早」to show that something happened earlier than expected.
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Time word + 就 + Verb | already did something at that earlier time |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他們以前就認識。 ♬ | tāmen yǐqián jiù rènshì | They already knew each other before. |
| 我早就知道了。 ♬ | wǒ zǎo jiù zhīdào le | I knew it a long time ago. |
| 她十年前就住在台北了。 ♬ | tā shí nián qián jiù zhù zài Táiběi le | She was already living in Taipei ten years ago. |
「早就」is very common. It means “already long ago.”
4. 如果……就……: if..., then...
Use「就」after a condition to show the result. This is one of the most important uses of「就」.
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 如果 + Condition，Subject + 就 + Result | If condition happens, then result happens. |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 如果下雨，我就不出門。 ♬ | rúguǒ xià yǔ, wǒ jiù bù chūmén | If it rains, I will not go out. |
| 如果你累了，就休息一下。 ♬ | rúguǒ nǐ lèi le, jiù xiūxí yíxià | If you are tired, then rest for a bit. |
In English, “then” is often optional. In Chinese,「就」is very common in this pattern.
5. 只要……就……: as long as..., then...
「只要……就……」means “as long as..., then...” It shows that one condition is enough for the result to happen.
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 只要 + Condition，就 + Result | as long as the condition is true, the result will happen |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 只要你努力，就會進步。 ♬ | zhǐyào nǐ nǔlì, jiù huì jìnbù | As long as you work hard, you will improve. |
| 只要你想學，我就教你。 ♬ | zhǐyào nǐ xiǎng xué, wǒ jiù jiāo nǐ | As long as you want to learn, I will teach you. |
6. 既然……就……: since..., then...
「既然……就……」means “since..., then...” It is used when the condition is already true or accepted as true.
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 既然 + Fact，就 + Result / Decision | since this is true, then... |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 你既然不同意，就算了。 ♬ | nǐ jìrán bù tóngyì, jiù suàn le | Since you disagree, then forget it. |
| 既然你已經知道了，我就不多說了。 ♬ | jìrán nǐ yǐjīng zhīdào le, wǒ jiù bù duō shuō le | Since you already know, I will not say more. |
「算了」means “forget it” or “let it go.”
7. 就是 jiù shì: exactly / precisely / this is
「就是」can emphasize that something is exactly the thing you are talking about.
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Subject + 就是 + Noun / Description | is exactly / is precisely |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 這就是我的家。 ♬ | zhè jiù shì wǒ de jiā | This is my home. / This is exactly my home. |
| 這就是問題。 ♬ | zhè jiù shì wèntí | This is exactly the problem. |
| 他就是我昨天說的人。 ♬ | tā jiù shì wǒ zuótiān shuō de rén | He is exactly the person I talked about yesterday. |
「就是」is stronger than「是」because it emphasizes exactness.
8. 我就知道: I knew it
「就」can strengthen a statement and make it sound more certain or expected.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我就知道他不會來。 ♬ | wǒ jiù zhīdào tā bú huì lái | I knew he would not come. |
| 我就知道會這樣。 ♬ | wǒ jiù zhīdào huì zhèyàng | I knew it would be like this. |
In this use,「就」can suggest “as expected” or “I knew it all along.”
9. 就 / 就只 / 就只有: only / just
「就」can mean “only” or “just,” especially when talking about a small number, limited amount, or limited choice.
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 就 + Verb / Quantity | just / only |
| 就只 / 就只有 | only; just only |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 屋裡就剩下我一個人。 ♬ | wū lǐ jiù shèngxià wǒ yí ge rén | I am the only one left in the house. |
| 屋裡就只剩下我一個人。 ♬ | wū lǐ jiù zhǐ shèngxià wǒ yí ge rén | Only I am left in the house. |
| 他就要了一張票，沒多要。 ♬ | tā jiù yào le yì zhāng piào, méi duō yào | He only asked for one ticket and did not ask for more. |
| 他就只要了一張票，沒多要。 ♬ | tā jiù zhǐ yào le yì zhāng piào, méi duō yào | He only asked for one ticket and nothing more. |
Adding「只」makes the “only” meaning clearer.
10. 就地 + Verb: do something on the spot
「就地」means “on the spot,” “locally,” or “right where one is.” It is common in fixed expressions.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 就地取材 ♬ | jiù dì qǔ cái | to use local materials / use what is available nearby |
| 就地休息 ♬ | jiù dì xiūxí | to rest on the spot |
This use is more like a fixed word pattern. Beginners can first remember「就地取材」as one phrase.
11. 就 + topic / range + 來 + Verb
「就」can introduce the topic, object, or range of an action. This is more formal, but useful for reading and discussion.
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 就 + Topic + 來 + Verb | regarding this topic, do something |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我們就這個主題來討論。 ♬ | wǒmen jiù zhège zhǔtí lái tǎolùn | We will discuss this topic. / We will discuss based on this topic. |
| 我們就這個問題來分析。 ♬ | wǒmen jiù zhège wèntí lái fēnxī | We will analyze this issue. |
This pattern is common in meetings, classes, reports, and formal discussions.
12. Common mistake: 就 is not always “just”
Many learners translate「就」as “just,” but this does not work in every sentence.
| Chinese | Better meaning | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我馬上就走。 ♬ | right away | I will leave right away. |
| 他們以前就認識。 ♬ | already before | They already knew each other before. |
| 如果下雨，我就不出門。 ♬ | then | If it rains, then I will not go out. |
| 這就是我的家。 ♬ | exactly | This is exactly my home. |
The meaning of「就」depends on the sentence pattern.
Quick review
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 馬上 / 立刻 + 就 | right away | 我馬上就走。 ♬ |
| Action 1 後，就 Action 2 | action 2 happens right after action 1 | 吃完飯後，就去睡覺。 ♬ |
| 以前就 / 早就 | already before / long ago | 他們以前就認識。 ♬ |
| 如果……就…… | if..., then... | 如果下雨，我就不出門。 ♬ |
| 只要……就…… | as long as..., then... | 只要你努力，就會進步。 ♬ |
| 既然……就…… | since..., then... | 既然你不同意，就算了。 ♬ |
| 就是 | exactly / precisely | 這就是我的家。 ♬ |
| 就 / 就只 / 就只有 | only / just | 就只剩下我一個人。 ♬ |
| 就 + topic + 來 + verb | regarding a topic | 我們就這個主題來討論。 ♬ |
Useful vocabulary
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 就 ♬ | jiù | then; right away; already; exactly; only |
| 馬上 ♬ | mǎshàng | right away; immediately |
| 立刻 ♬ | lìkè | immediately |
| 現在 ♬ | xiànzài | now |
| 走 ♬ | zǒu | to walk; to leave |
| 看到 ♬ | kàndào | to see |
| 前女友 ♬ | qián nǚyǒu | ex-girlfriend |
| 以前 ♬ | yǐqián | before; previously |
| 早就 ♬ | zǎo jiù | already long ago |
| 認識 ♬ | rènshì | to know; to be acquainted with |
| 如果 ♬ | rúguǒ | if |
| 只要 ♬ | zhǐyào | as long as |
| 既然 ♬ | jìrán | since; now that |
| 不同意 ♬ | bù tóngyì | to disagree |
| 算了 ♬ | suàn le | forget it; let it go |
| 就是 ♬ | jiù shì | exactly; precisely; that is |
| 家 ♬ | jiā | home; family |
| 剩下 ♬ | shèngxià | to remain; to be left |
| 一個人 ♬ | yí ge rén | one person; alone |
| 票 ♬ | piào | ticket |
| 就地取材 ♬ | jiù dì qǔ cái | to use local materials; use what is available nearby |
| 主題 ♬ | zhǔtí | topic; theme |
| 討論 ♬ | tǎolùn | to discuss |
| 分析 ♬ | fēnxī | to analyze |
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