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

Structure

Verb + 就 + Verb

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

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!I will leave if they want me to leave. I wanted to quit long time ago!
• 反对 就 反对 ，我 不 在乎 。Fǎnduì jiù fǎnduì, wǒ bù zàihū.If they disagree, let them disagree. 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 long time ago!

Negative Form

Structure

不 / 没 + Adj. / Verb + 就 + 不 / 没 + Adj. / Verb

Examples

• 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.
• 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 will stop eating if you're asking me to. You think I really want to eat it?
• 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!Don't help if you don't want. 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.It's fine that you don't really understand. There's no point me telling you so much.

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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