Limiting scope with "jiu"

"Limiting scope" is like saying, "what I'm about to say applies to just this." You precede the scope with 就 (jiù) in this pattern.

Indicating Scope with Just 就

"就” can be placed after the subject to indicate the object or scope of the subject's activities such as observation, discussion, analysis, and explanation.

Basic Structure

Subj. + 就 + Scope + Verb + Obj.

Examples

• 两 国 领导人 就 环保 问题 交换 了 意见。Liǎng guó lǐngdǎorén jiù huánbǎo wèntí jiāohuàn le yìjiàn.The two leaders exchanged views on environmental issues.
• 我 就 这个 问题 说 两 点 我的 想法。Wǒ jiù zhège wèntí shuō liǎng diǎn wǒ de xiǎngfǎ.I would like to make two points on this issue.
• 大家 就 中国 互联网 的 发展 发表了 各自 的 看法 。Dàjiā jiù Zhōngguó hùliánwǎng de fāzhǎn fābiǎo le gèzì de kànfǎ.Everyone expressed their own thoughts on the development of China's internet.
• 中国 主席 就 中国 最近 的 经济 改革 做 了 发言 。Zhōngguó zhǔxí jiù Zhōngguó zuìjìn de jīngjì gǎigé zuò le fāyán.China's chairman made a statement on China's recent economic reforms.
• 来自 各 国 的 教育 学者们 就 什么 是 最好 的 教育 方法 进行 了 激烈的 讨论。Láizì gèguó de jiàoyù xuézhě men jiù shénme shì zuìhǎo de jiàoyù fāngfǎ jìnxíng le jīliè de tǎolùn.Education experts from every country had a heated discussion on the best methods of education.

Limiting Scope with 就……来说 / 而言

Structure

就 (jiù) can be used to limit the scope of a comment, used in the following structure:

就 + Topic + [来说 / 而言] + Comment

This emphasizes that the speaker is just commenting on that particular topic and nothing else, like "just with regards to" in English. In this sense it is similar to 至于 (zhìyú), but is generally used to introduce a new idea, rather than to move on from a previous related topic.

Note that in the pattern above, 来说 is more informal, and 而言 is more formal.

Examples

• 就 中国 的 独生子女 政策 而言，专家 各 有 各 的 看法。Jiù Zhōngguó de Dúshēngzǐnǚ Zhèngcè ér yán, zhuānjiā gè yǒu gè de kànfǎ.As for China's One Child Policy, every expert has their own opinion.
• 就 文化大革命 而言，大部分 的 人 都 认为 那 是 一 场 灾难。Jiù Wénhuà Dàgémìng ér yán, dàbùfèn de rén dōu rènwéi nà shì yī chǎng zāinàn.As for the Cultural Revolution, most of the people think it was a disaster.
• 就 整体 而言，这 幅 画 不错，但是 有 一些 细节 还是 要 注意 。Jiù zhěngtǐ ér yán, zhè fú huà bùcuò, dànshì yǒu yīxiē xìjié háishì yào zhùyì.As a whole, the painting is not bad, but there are some details that need attention.
• 就 这些 事情 来说，他 没有 错。Jiù zhèxiē shìqing lái shuō, tā méiyǒu cuò.In regards to these matters, he didn't do anything wrong.
• 就 我们 家 来说，要求 还是 很 多 的 ，比如 晚上 十二点 以前 必须 回家 。Jiù wǒmen jiā lái shuō, yāoqiú háishì hěn duō de, bǐrú wǎnshang shí'èr diǎn yǐqián bìxū huíjiā.With regards to my family, there are lots of demands on me. For example, we have to be home before twelve o'clock in the evening.

See also

• "With Regards to" as "zhiyu"
• "For…" with "eryan"
• Marking a Topic with "de hua"

Sources and Further Reading

• 现代汉语虚词例释 (pp. 306) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy

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