Expressing "small quantity" with "jiu"

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

1 Used as "Only"

1.1 Used before Subject

1.1.1 Structure
1.1.2 Examples

1.2 Used before the Predicate

1.2.1 Structure
1.2.2 Examples

2 Used as "Only Have"

2.1 Structure
2.2 Examples

3 See also
4 Sources and further reading

4.1 Books
4.2 Dictionaries 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

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

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. (In these cases, however, 就有 would not be correct. Just use 就.)

Structure

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.

Expressing "small quantity" with "就" "jiù"

Contents

Used before Subject

Structure

Examples

Used before the Predicate

Structure

Examples

Used as "Only Have"

Structure

Examples

See also

Books