When we want to express "to do something as one pleases," we can use the "想 verb +就 verb" form.

Basic Usage

This structure is similar to how we would say in English "Whatever I want to eat, I eat" or "Wherever I want to go, I go." What comes after the 想 and 就 are the same verb.

Structure

Examples

你想来就来。 Nǐ xiǎng lái jiù lái.
If you want to come, come.
想吃就吃，不用问我。 Xiǎng chī jiù chī, bùyòng wèn wǒ.
If you want to eat, help yourself. You don't need to ask me.
别害怕，想唱就大声唱。 Bié hàipà, xiǎng chàng jiù dàshēng chàng.
Don't be afraid. If you want to sing, sing loudly.
想做就做，考虑那么多干吗？ Xiǎng zuò jiù zuò, kǎolǜ nàme duō gànmá?
If you want to do it, do it. Why would you consider so much?
想跑就跑，哪有那么容易？ Xiǎng pǎo jiù pǎo, nǎ yǒu nàme róngyì?
Isn't it too easy that you just leave when you want to run away?

Used with Question Word

You can also add in a question word, like 什么, 哪儿, or 怎么. When this is the case, the pronouns don't necessarily refer to any specific thing. They can be seen more as words like "whatever" or "wherever." This way, question pronouns (什么,谁,什么时候,etc) serve as "indefinite references."

Structure

Examples

想去哪儿就去哪儿。 Xiǎng qù nǎr jiù qù nǎr.
You can go wherever you like to go.
想请谁就请谁。 Xiǎng qǐng shéi jiù qǐng shéi.
You can invite whoever you like to invite.
想什么时候来就什么时候来。 Xiǎng shénme shíhou lái jiù shénme shíhou lái.
You can come whenever you like.
想点什么就点什么，我请客。 Xiǎng diǎn shénmejiù diǎn shénme, wǒ qǐngkè.
You can order whatever you like. I'm buying.
这些钱我想怎么花就怎么花，不关你的事。 Zhèxiē qián wǒ xiǎng zěnme huā jiù zěnme huā, bù guān nǐ de shì.
I will spend the money however I like. It has nothing to do with you.

Contents

Basic Usage

Structure

Examples

Used with Question Word

Structure

Examples

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries