Difference between revisions of "Expressing "small quantity" with "jiu""
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 我 <em>就</em> | + | * 我 <em>就</em> 两 块 钱。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>jiù</em> liǎng kuài qián.</span><span class="trans">I only have two kuai.</span> |
| − | * 为什么 这里 <em>就</em> | + | * 为什么 这里 <em>就</em> 一 个 厕所 呢？<span class="pinyin">Wèishéme zhèlǐ <em>jiù</em> yīgè cèsuǒ ne?</span><span class="trans">Why does this place only have bathroom ?</span> |
| − | * 我 <em>就</em> | + | * 我 在 上海 <em>就</em> 两个 朋友。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài shànghǎi <em>jiù</em> liǎng gè péngyǒu.</span><span class="trans">I only have two friends in Shanghai.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 10:01, 4 August 2015
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Level
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Keywords
就 (jiù) is often translated simply as "just", but there are some nuances to how it is used.
Contents
Structure with 就 meaning "only have"
就（jiù）can mean "only, or only have". When using it you can add 只 (zhǐ) and 只有 (zhǐ yǒu), or you can leave it out.
Subject + 就 + (只) + Verb
Examples
- 我 就 两 块 钱。I only have two kuai.
- 为什么 这里 就 一 个 厕所 呢？Why does this place only have bathroom ?
- 我 在 上海 就 两个 朋友。I only have two friends in Shanghai.
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
- 外国人实用汉语语法 (p. 570)→buy
Dictionaries
- 现代汉语词典（第5版） (p. 733) →buy
