Adding emphasis with "jiushi"

就是 (jiùshì) can be used to add many different types of emphasis.

It can be used in the following ways:

To intensify adjectives

就是 can be used to modify an adjective to mean "really", or "really that and nothing else".

Structure

就是 + adjective

Examples

• 他 就是 聪明，考试 总是 第 一 名。He's just really smart. He's always gets the best grade on tests.
• 我 真的 什么 都 没 做，他 就是 对 我 有 偏见。I really didn't do any of it. He's just prejudiced towards me.
• 她 就是 漂亮，没什么 别的 优点。She's just pretty; she doesn't have other talents.

To express resoluteness

Used before a verb, this usage has the feeling that the speaker is being stubborn and is unwilling to change their mind.

Structure

就是 + verb

Examples

• 我 老公 就是 爱 抽烟，他 根本 戒 不了!
• 我 就是 不 去，我 一向 都 不 爱 去 酒吧。
• 他 就是 不 相信 星座，你 怎么 跟 他 解释 也 没 用。

To limit the scope of verbs and adjectives

就是 can be used before verbs and adjectives to limit the scope of what the speaker is talking about, eliminating options in order to focus in on something. This is a bit like "only", or "just" in English. This is quite similar to the first usage.

Structure

就是+focus

Examples

• 警察，你 看 你 看，就是 他，你 快 点 去 抓！(Emphasizing that the thief is him and no one else)
• 所有 的 人 都 准时 到 了，就是 小 杨 迟到 了。 (Emphasizing that only 小杨 was late, everyone else was on time)
• 我 对 别 人 没有 什么 印象，就是 对 你 印象 深刻。(Emphasizing that it was only you which made an impression on me)

See also

• Emphasizing the Doer of an Action with "you"

Sources and further reading

Books

• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 163) →buy

Websites

http://baike.baidu.com/view/546642.htm http://www.nciku.com/search/zh/detail/%E5%B0%B1%E6%98%AF/1308257

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