Expressing indifference with "jiu"

One of the many uses of 就 (jiù) is to add emphasis to indifference. This is similar to when we say in English "if you want to do it, then just do it!" and swapping out the "do" in that sentence for some other verb.

Affirmative Form

If you've learned to express "as one likes" with 就, then this pattern should feel familiar. It has a very different tone, however, better suited to higher-level learners.

Structure

This structure will usually add emphasis to what are saying, and it often expresses that the speaker has an "I don't care" attitude.

Verb + 就 + Verb

Note that the verb in this pattern is the same one repeating.

Examples

• 坏了 就 坏了 ，再 买 新的 。Huài le jiù huài le, zài mǎi xīn de.If it's broken, leave it there. We can buy a new one.
• 走 就 走 ，我 早就 不 想 干 了 ！Zǒu jiù zǒu, wǒ zǎo jiù bù xiǎng gàn le!Sure, I'll leave. I wanted to quit a long time ago!
• 反对 就 反对 ，我 不 在乎 。Fǎnduì jiù fǎnduì, wǒ bù zàihu.If they oppose it, let them oppose it. I don't care.
• 赌 就 赌 ，谁 怕 谁 ？Dǔ jiù dǔ, shéi pà shéi?If you want to take a bet, let's take a bet. You think you scare me?
• 离婚 就 离婚 ，我 早就 想 离 了 ！Líhūn jiù líhūn, wǒ zǎo jiù xiǎng lí le!If you want to get a divorce, let's do it. I wanted to do this a long time ago!

Negative Form

Structure

不 + Adj. / Verb + 就 + 不 + Adj. / Verb

The 不 in this pattern can also be replaced with 没.

Examples

• 她 不 高兴 就 不 高兴 ，不 是 我 的 错 。Tā bù gāoxìng jiù bù gāoxìng, bù shì wǒ de cuò.If she's unhappy, she's unhappy. It's not like it's my fault.
• 不 吃 就 不 吃 ，你 以为 我 很 想 吃 啊 ？Bù chī jiù bù chī, nǐ yǐwéi wǒ hěn xiǎng chī a?I'm fine with not eating. You think I really want to eat?
• 不 帮 就 不 帮 ，我 又 不 是 只有 你 一 个 朋友 ！Bù bāng jiù bù bāng, wǒ yòu bù shì zhǐyǒu nǐ yīgè péngyou!Fine, don't help if you don't want to. You're not the only friend that I've got.
• 你们 不 懂 就 不 懂 ，我 说 那么 多 也 没 用 。Nǐmen bù dǒng jiù bù dǒng, wǒ shuō nàme duō yě méi yòng.You just really don't get it. There's no point in me explaining so much.
• 他 没 来 就 没 来 ，我 一个人 可以 搞定 。Tā méi lái jiù méi lái, wǒ yīgèrén kěyǐ gǎodìng.It's fine that he didn't show up. I can handle it by myself.

See also

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

Sources and further reading

• 现代汉语八百词 (pp. 316-317) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy

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