Expressing "then" with "jiu"

The adverb 就 (jiù) has quite a few uses in Chinese, and appears in several common patterns. This is the first and simplest usage you need to know, though, and it means something similar to "then."

Structure

Usually the first part of the sentence will set up a situation. Then the second part, with 就 (jiù) leading the way, indicates what should be done as a result.

..., 就 + Verb Phrase

Examples

Not always easy to translate, you could think of 就 (jiù) as meaning "just" or "then."

• 你 喜欢 喝 奶茶，我们 就 买 奶茶 吧。Nǐ xǐhuan hē nǎichá, wǒmen jiù mǎi nǎichá ba.So you like milk tea. Then we'll buy milk tea.
• 你 最 有 经验，就 听 你的 吧。Nǐ zuì yǒu jīngyàn, jiù tīng nǐ de ba.You have the most experience. We'll just listen to you.
• 我 听到 这个 坏 消息，就 给 你 打 电话 了。Wǒ tīngdào zhège huài xiāoxi, jiù gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà le.As soon as I heard this bad news, I called you.
• 你 现在 身体 不 好，就 不 要 喝酒 了。Nǐ xiànzài shēntǐ bù hǎo, jiù bùyào hē jiǔ le.Your health isn't good now. So just stop drinking.
• 他 最近 太 累 了，就 生病 了。Tā zuìjìn tài lèi le, jiù shēngbìng le.He's been too tired recently, and then he got sick.
• 今天 下雨，我们 就 不 出去 了。Jīntiān xiàyǔ, wǒmen jiù bù chūqù le.It's going to rain today. So let's just not go out.
• 他 妈妈 没有 给 他 买 书包，他 就 哭 了。Tā māma méiyǒu gěi tā mǎi shūbāo, tā jiù kū le.His mom didn't buy him the backpack, and then he just started crying.
• 就 在 这 家 店 吃饭 吧，那 家 店 人 太 多 了。Jiù zài zhè jiā diàn chīfàn ba, nà jiā diàn rén tài duō le .Let's just eat at this restaurant. That one is too crowded.
• 就 去 看 电影 吧。Jiù qù kàn diànyǐng ba.Let's just go watch a movie.

See also

• 就

Sources and further reading

Books

• HSK Standard Course 2 (pp. 36) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

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