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Level

[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)

Similar to

- [Comparing "cai" and "jiu"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Comparing_%22cai%22_and_%22jiu%22) (B2)

Used for

[Describing actions](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Describing_actions), [Describing things](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Describing_things)

Keywords

[就](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%B0%B1)

Translations

[just](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Just), [only](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Only)

[![Chinese-grammar-wiki-jiu.jpg](Expressing%20%22small%20quantity%22%20with%20%22jiu%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/300px-Chinese-grammar-wiki-jiu.jpg "fig:Chinese-grammar-wiki-jiu.jpg"){width="300" height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-jiu.jpg)

就 (jiù) is often translated simply as "just" or "only," but there are some nuances to how it is used.

Contents -------- [hide]([# "wikilink")\]

- [1 Used as "Only"](#Used_as_.22Only.22 "wikilink") - [1.1 Used before Subject](#Used_before_Subject "wikilink") - [1.1.1 Structure](#Structure "wikilink") - [1.1.2 Examples](#Examples "wikilink") - [1.2 Used before the Predicate](#Used_before_the_Predicate "wikilink") - [1.2.1 Structure](#Structure_2 "wikilink") - [1.2.2 Examples](#Examples_2 "wikilink") - [2 Used as "Only Have"](#Used_as_.22Only_Have.22 "wikilink") - [2.1 Structure](#Structure_3 "wikilink") - [2.2 Examples](#Examples_3 "wikilink") - [3 See also](#See_also "wikilink") - [4 Sources and further reading](#Sources_and_further_reading "wikilink") - [4.1 Books](#Books "wikilink") - [4.2 Dictionaries](#Dictionaries "wikilink")

Used as "Only" ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 就 can also be used to express one person or thing, similar to how we say in English "just one person" or "just one left." It is often paired with 一个 or similar in order to emphasize the small quantity. ### Used before Subject #### Structure

就 + Subj. + Predicate

The [predicate](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Predicate) part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective. #### Examples

- 这件事 *就* 我知道。Zhè jiàn shì *jiù* wǒ zhīdào.I'm the only person that knows about this. - 我们都忘了，*就* 他还记得。Wǒmen dōu wàng le, *jiù* tā hái jìde.We all forgot. Only he still remembers it. - 大家都下班了，*就* 老板还没走。Dàjiā dōu xiàbān le, *jiù* lǎobǎn hái méi zǒu.Everyone finished work and left. Only the boss hasn't left. - 所有的菜都很好吃，*就* 这两个菜有点咸。Suǒyǒu de cài dōu hěn hǎochī, *jiù* zhè liǎng gè cài yǒudiǎn xián.All the food is delicious. Just these two dishes are a little salty. - 你觉得别人都是傻子吗？*就* 你聪明？Nǐ juéde biérén dōu shì shǎzi ma? *Jiù* nǐ cōngming?Do you think everyone is an idiot? That only you are smart?

In this case, the 就 comes before the verb, and what's being emphasized as "small quantity" comes after the verb, either as an object or some other kind of small quantity. ### Used before the Predicate #### Structure

Subj. + 就 + \[Verb Phrase\]

#### Examples

- 我 *就* 去过一次。Wǒ *jiù* qù guo yī cì.I've only been there once. - 我早饭 *就* 吃了一片面包。Wǒ zǎofàn *jiù* chī le yī piàn miàn bāo.I only had a piece of bread for breakfast. - 你 *就* 点了两个菜？Nǐ *jiù* diǎn le liǎng gè cài?You ordered only two dishes? - 他的事，我们 *就* 知道一点点。Tā de shì, wǒmen *jiù* zhīdào yīdiǎndiǎn.We only know a little about his business. - 她在我们公司 *就* 工作了两个月。Tā zài wǒmen gōngsī *jiù* gōngzuò le liǎng gè yuè.She has worked at our company for only two months.

Used as "Only Have" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In this case, 就 means "only have," similar in meaning to [只有](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%8F%AA%E6%9C%89). (In these cases, however, 就有 would not be correct. Just use 就.) ### Structure

Subj. + 就 + Number + \[Measure Word\] + Noun

### Examples

- 这里 *就* 一个厕所？Zhèlǐ *jiù* yī gè cèsuǒ?Does this place only have one bathroom? - 你们家 *就* 一个孩子吗？Nǐmen jiā *jiù* yī gè háizi ma?Does your family only have one child? - 我 *就* 一个哥哥。Wǒ *jiù* yī gè gēge.I only have one brother. - 他在上海 *就* 一个朋友。Tā zài Shànghǎi *jiù* yī gè péngyou.He only has one friend in Shanghai. - 我们公司 *就* 三个员工。Wǒmen gōngsī *jiù* sān gè yuángōng.There are only three employees in our company.

See also ------------------------------------------------------- - [Comparing "cai" and "jiu"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Comparing_%22cai%22_and_%22jiu%22) - \[...\_jiu%22 Events in quick succession with "yi... jiu"\] - [Expressing earliness with "jiu"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_earliness_with_%22jiu%22) - [Expressing indifference with "jiu"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_indifference_with_%22jiu%22) - [Limiting scope with "jiu"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Limiting_scope_with_%22jiu%22) - ["If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22If%E2%80%A6,_then%E2%80%A6%22_with_%22ruguo%E2%80%A6,_jiu%E2%80%A6%22) Sources and further reading --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Books - [现代汉语虚词例释](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%99%9A%E8%AF%8D%E4%BE%8B%E9%87%8A) (pp. 315) [→buy](http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B004323J90/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1) - [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_2_(3rd_ed)) (pp. 175-6) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2femBuy) - [New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_4_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC4)) (pp. 120) [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192) - [A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/A_Practical_Chinese_Grammar_For_Foreigners_(%E5%A4%96%E5%9B%BD%E4%BA%BA%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%AD%E6%B3%95)) (pp. 570) [→buy](http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA) ### Dictionaries - [现代汉语词典（第5版）](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8%EF%BC%88%E7%AC%AC5%E7%89%88%EF%BC%89) (p. 733) [→buy](http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/dp/B001B1RZCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693609&sr=8-1)

[Category](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:Categories): - [B1 grammar points](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Category:B1_grammar_points)

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