Difference between revisions of "Expressing "small quantity" with "jiu""
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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. | 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 | + | === Used Before the Subject === |
==== Structure ==== | ==== Structure ==== | ||
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*这 件 事 <em>就</em> 我 知道 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn shì <em>jiù</em> wǒ zhīdào.</span><span class="trans">I'm the only person that knows about this.</span> | *这 件 事 <em>就</em> 我 知道 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn shì <em>jiù</em> wǒ 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> | *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> | ||
| − | *大家 都 下班 了 ，<em>就</em> 老板 | + | *大家 都 下班 了 ，<em>就</em> 老板 还 没 走 。<span class="pinyin">Dàjiā dōu xiàbān le, <em>jiù</em> lǎobǎn hái méi zǒu.</span><span class="trans">Everyone finished work and left. Only the boss hasn't left.</span> |
| − | * | + | *其他 的 菜 都 很 好吃，<em>就</em> 这 两 个 菜 有点 咸 。<span class="pinyin">Qítā de cài dōu hěn hǎochī, <em>jiù</em> zhè liǎng gè cài yǒudiǎn xián.</span><span class="trans">The other dishes are great. Just these two dishes are a little salty.</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> | + | *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 else is an idiot? That only you are smart?</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
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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. | 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 | + | === Used Before the Predicate === |
==== Structure ==== | ==== Structure ==== | ||
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Subj. + 就 + [Verb Phrase] | Subj. + 就 + [Verb Phrase] | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | In this structure, the verb phrase is going to include some kind of [[measure word]]. | ||
==== Examples ==== | ==== Examples ==== | ||
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*我 <em>就</em> 去 过 一 次 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>jiù</em> qù guo yī cì.</span><span class="trans">I've only been there once.</span> | *我 <em>就</em> 去 过 一 次 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>jiù</em> qù guo yī cì.</span><span class="trans">I've only been there once.</span> | ||
| − | *我 早饭 <em>就</em> 吃 了 一 片 | + | *我 早饭 <em>就</em> 吃 了 一 片 面包。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zǎofàn <em>jiù</em> chī le yī piàn miànbāo.</span><span class="trans">I only had a piece of bread for breakfast.</span> |
| − | |||
| − | |||
*你 <em>就</em> 点 了 两 个 菜 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>jiù</em> diǎn le liǎng gè cài?</span><span class="trans">You ordered only two dishes?</span> | *你 <em>就</em> 点 了 两 个 菜 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>jiù</em> diǎn le liǎng gè cài?</span><span class="trans">You ordered only two dishes?</span> | ||
| + | *他 的 事 ，我们 <em>就</em> 知道 一点点 。<span class="pinyin">Tā de shì, wǒmen <em>jiù</em> zhīdào yīdiǎndiǎn.</span><span class="trans">We only know a little about his business.</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> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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== Used as "Only Have" == | == 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 | + | 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 === | === Structure === | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * | + | *这里 <em>就</em> 一 个 厕所 ？<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ <em>jiù</em> yī gè cèsuǒ?</span><span class="trans">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> | *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> | *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> | ||
Latest revision as of 08:14, 26 November 2018
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
就 (jiù) is often translated simply as "just" or "only," but there are some nuances to how it is used.
Contents
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 the Subject
Structure
就 + Subj. + Predicate
The predicate part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective.
Examples
- 这 件 事 就 我 知道 。I'm the only person that knows about this.
- 我们 都 忘 了 ，就 他 还 记得 。We all forgot. Only he still remembers it.
- 大家 都 下班 了 ，就 老板 还 没 走 。Everyone finished work and left. Only the boss hasn't left.
- 其他 的 菜 都 很 好吃，就 这 两 个 菜 有点 咸 。The other dishes are great. Just these two dishes are a little salty.
- 你 觉得 别人 都 是 傻子 吗？就 你 聪明 ？Do you think everyone else 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
Subj. + 就 + [Verb Phrase]
In this structure, the verb phrase is going to include some kind of measure word.
Examples
- 我 就 去 过 一 次 。I've only been there once.
- 我 早饭 就 吃 了 一 片 面包。I only had a piece of bread for breakfast.
- 你 就 点 了 两 个 菜 ？You ordered only two dishes?
- 他 的 事 ，我们 就 知道 一点点 。We only know a little about his business.
- 她 在 我们 公司 就 工作 了 两个 月。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
Subj. + 就 + Number + [Measure Word] + Noun
Examples
- 这里 就 一 个 厕所 ？Does this place only have one bathroom?
- 你们 家 就 一 个 孩子 吗 ？Does your family only have one child?
- 我 就 一 个 哥哥 。I only have one brother.
- 他 在 上海 就 一 个 朋友 。He only has one friend in Shanghai.
- 我们 公司 就 三 个 员工 。There are only three employees in our company.
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 (pp. 315) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 175-6) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 120) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) (pp. 570) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
Dictionaries
- 现代汉语词典（第5版） (p. 733) →buy
