Expressing "as one likes" with "jiu"

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

1 Basic Pattern

1.1 Structure
1.2 Examples

2 Advanced Pattern

2.1 Structure
2.2 Examples

3 See also
4 Sources and further reading

4.1 Books
4.2 Dictionaries

Basic Pattern

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

想吃就吃。 Xiǎng chī jiù chī. If you want to eat, help yourself.
想走就走吧。 Xiǎng zǒu jiù zǒu ba. Leave if you want to.
想买就买，不用问我。 Xiǎng mǎi jiù mǎi, bùyòng wèn wǒ. If you want to buy, go ahead. You don't need to ask me.
别害怕，想说就说。 Bié hàipà, xiǎng shuō jiù shuō. Don't be afraid. If you want to say, say it.
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?

Advanced Pattern

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 anything specific. 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 shénme jiù 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。 Zhèxiē qián wǒ xiǎng zěnme huā jiù zěnme huā. I will spend the money however I like.

Expressing "as one likes" with "jiu"

Contents

Basic Pattern

Structure

Examples

Advanced Pattern

Structure

Examples

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries