ChineseGrammarWiki/Programmes/B1.old/Grammar-wiki-B1-27.txt

{{Grammar Box}} 

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

== Followed by Single Subject ==

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.

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
就 + [Single Subject] + Verb
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">
*这 件 事 <em>就</em> 我 一 个 人 知道 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn shì <em>jiù</em> wǒ yī gè rén zhīdào.</span><span class="trans">I'm the only person that knows about this.</span>
*我们 都 忘 了 ，<em>就</em> 他 还 记得 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu wàng le, <em>jiù</em> tā hái jìde.</span><span class="trans">We all forgot. Only he still remembers it.</span>
*所有 的 菜 都 很 好吃，<em>就</em> 这个 菜 有点 咸 。<span class="pinyin">Suǒyǒu de cài dōu hěn hǎochī, <em>jiù</em> zhège cài yǒudiǎn xián.</span><span class="trans">All the food is delicious. Just this one dish is a little salty.</span>
*大家 都 下班 了 ，<em>就</em> 老板 还 在 办公室 。<span class="pinyin">Dàjiā dōu xiàbān le, <em>jiù</em> lǎobǎn hái zài bàngōngshì.</span><span class="trans">Everyone finished work and left. Only the boss is still in the office.</span>
*你 觉得 别人 都 是 傻子 吗？<em>就</em> 你 聪明 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ juéde biérén dōu shì shǎzi ma? <em>Jiù</em> nǐ cōngming?</span><span class="trans">Do you think everyone is an idiot? That only you are smart?</span>

</div>

== Followed by Verb Phrase ==

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.

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 就 + Verb-Obj. 
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

*这 家 公司 我 <em>就</em> 认识 一 个 人。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiā gōngsī wǒ <em>jiù</em>  rènshi yī gè rén.</span><span class="trans">I only know one person in this company.</span>
*这 家 餐厅 我 <em>就</em> 来 过 一 次 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiā cāntīng wǒ <em>jiù</em> lái guo yī cì.</span><span class="trans">I've only been to this restaurant once.</span>
*她 在 我们公司 <em>就</em> 工作 了 两个 月。<span class="pinyin">Tā zài wǒmen gōngsī <em>jiù</em> gōngzuò le liǎng gè yuè.</span><span class="trans">She has worked at our company for only two months.</span>
*我 老板 <em>就</em> 会 说 几 句 英文。<span class="pinyin"> Wǒ lǎobǎn <em>jiù</em> huì shuō jǐ jù Yīngwén.</span><span class="trans">My boss can only speak a few sentences of English.</span>
*你 怎么 <em>就</em> 点 了 这 几 个 菜？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zěnme <em>jiù</em> diǎn le zhè jǐ gè cài?</span><span class="trans">How could you order just these few dishes?</span>

</div>

== Used as a Verb ==

In this case, 就 means "only have," similar in meaning to [[只有]]. (In these cases, however, 就有 would not be correct, however. Just use 就.)

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 就 + Number + Measure Word + Noun  
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

*为什么 这里 <em>就</em> 一 个 厕所 ？<span class="pinyin">Wèishéme zhèlǐ <em>jiù</em> yī gè cèsuǒ?</span><span class="trans">Why does this place only have one bathroom?</span>
*你们 家 <em>就</em> 一 个 孩子 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen jiā <em>jiù</em> yī gè háizi ma?</span><span class="trans">Does your family only have one child?</span>
*我 <em>就</em> 一 个 哥哥 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>jiù</em> yī gè gēge.</span><span class="trans">I only have one brother.</span>
*他 在 上海 <em>就</em> 一 个 朋友 。<span class="pinyin">Tā zài Shànghǎi <em>jiù</em> yī gè péngyou.</span><span class="trans">He only has one friend in Shanghai.</span>
*我们 公司 <em>就</em> 三 个 员工 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen gōngsī <em>jiù</em> sān gè yuángōng.</span><span class="trans">There are only three employees in our company.</span>

</div>

== See also ==

*[[Comparing "cai" and "jiu"]]
*[[Events in quick succession with "yi... jiu"]]
*[[Expressing earliness with "jiu" ]]
*[[Expressing indifference with "jiu"]]
*[[Limiting scope with "jiu"]]
*[["If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"]]

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Books ===

*[[现代汉语虚词例释]] (p. 315)[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 →buy]
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 175-6) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)]] (p. 120) [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 →buy]
* [[外国人实用汉语语法]] (p. 570)[http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA →buy]

=== Dictionaries ===
* [[现代汉语词典（第5版）]] (p. 733) [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 →buy]

[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|就|B1|Subj. + 就 + Number + Measure Word + Noun|他 家 <em>就</em> 一 个 孩子 。|grammar point|ASGPW8PP}}
{{Used for|Describing actions}}
{{Used for|Describing things}}
{{Similar|"cai" used for small numbers}}
{{Similar|Expressing "only" with "zhi"}}
{{POS|Adverbs}}
{{Translation|just}}
{{Translation|only}}