Expressing "small quantity" with "jiu"

就 is often translated as simply "just", but there are some nuances to how it is used.

Structure with 就 meaning "only have"

就 can mean "only, or only have". When using it you can add 只 and 只有, or you can leave it out.

Subject + 就 + (只) + Verb

Examples

• 我 就 只 有 两 块 钱，别 的 没有。I only have two kuai. I don't have any more.
• 为什么 这里 就 只 有 一 个 女 厕所，男 厕所 呢？Why does this place only have one girl's bathroom and one boy's bathroom?
• 我 就 认识 一 个 中国 人。I only know one Chinese person.

Structure with 就 meaning "just one"

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 something like that.

就 + single things or persons

Examples

• 这 件 事 就 我 一 个 人 知道。I'm the only person that knows about this.
• 你 觉得 别人 都 是 傻子 吗？就 你 懂 得 多？Do you think every one is an idiot? That only you understand well?
• 房间 里 就 一 张 床，一 张 桌子。There's only one bed and one table in the room.

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 (p. 315)→buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 175-6) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (p. 120) →buy

Dictionaries

• 现代汉语词典（第5版） (p. 733) →buy

HSK4