Difference between revisions of "Expressing "small quantity" with "jiu""
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就 (jiù) is often translated simply as "just" or "only," but there are some nuances to how it is used. | 就 (jiù) is often translated simply as "just" or "only," but there are some nuances to how it is used. | ||
| − | == | + | == Using 就 to mean "only have" == |
| − | |||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | Subj. + 就 + | + | Subj. + 就 + Number + Measure Word + Noun |
</div> | </div> | ||
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* 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> | * 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> 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 one bathroom ?</span> | * 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 one bathroom ?</span> | ||
| − | * 我 在 上海 <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 péngyou.</span><span class="trans">I only have two friends in Shanghai.</span> |
* 他家 <em>就</em> 一个 男孩 。<span class="pinyin"> Tā jiā <em>jiù</em> yīgè nánhái.</span><span class="trans">His family only has one boy .</span> | * 他家 <em>就</em> 一个 男孩 。<span class="pinyin"> Tā jiā <em>jiù</em> yīgè nánhái.</span><span class="trans">His family only has one boy .</span> | ||
* 房间 里 <em>就</em> 一 张 床，一 张 桌子。<span class="pinyin">Fángjiān lǐ <em>jiù</em> yī zhāng chuáng, yī zhāng zhuōzi.</span><span class="trans">There's only one bed and one table in the room.</span> | * 房间 里 <em>就</em> 一 张 床，一 张 桌子。<span class="pinyin">Fángjiān lǐ <em>jiù</em> yī zhāng chuáng, yī zhāng zhuōzi.</span><span class="trans">There's only one bed and one table in the room.</span> | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | Subj. + 就 + Verb | + | Subj. + 就 + [Verb Phrase] |
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * | + | * 这 家 公司 我 <em>就</em> 认识 一 个 人。<span class="pinyin"> Zhè jiā gōngsī wǒ <em>jiù</em> rènshi yī gè rén.</span><span class="trans">I've only known one guy in this company .</span> |
| − | * | + | * 来 上海 以后 他 <em>就</em> 回 过 两 次 家。<span class="pinyin"> Lái shànghǎi yǐhòu, tā <em>jiù</em> huí guò liǎng cì jiā .</span><span class="trans">He's only gone back home twice since he came to Shanghai.</span> |
* 她 在 我们公司 <em>就</em> 工作 了 不到 两个 月。<span class="pinyin">Tā zài wǒmen gōngsī <em>jiù</em> gōngzuò le bú dào liǎng gè yuè.</span><span class="trans">She has worked at our company for less than two months.</span> | * 她 在 我们公司 <em>就</em> 工作 了 不到 两个 月。<span class="pinyin">Tā zài wǒmen gōngsī <em>jiù</em> gōngzuò le bú dào liǎng gè yuè.</span><span class="trans">She has worked at our company for less than two months.</span> | ||
* 我老板 <em>就</em> 会 说 几 句 英文。<span class="pinyin"> Wǒ lǎobǎn <em>jiù</em> huì shuō jǐjù yīngwén.</span><span class="trans"> My boss can only speak a few sentences in English.</span> | * 我老板 <em>就</em> 会 说 几 句 英文。<span class="pinyin"> Wǒ lǎobǎn <em>jiù</em> huì shuō jǐjù yīngwén.</span><span class="trans"> My boss can only speak a few sentences in English.</span> | ||
| − | * 你 怎么 <em>就</em> | + | * 你 怎么 <em>就</em> 点 了 这 几个 菜？<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ zěnme <em>jiù</em> diǎn le zhè jǐ gè cài ?</span><span class="trans">How could you only order such a few dishes ?</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 07:23, 13 June 2017
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Keywords
就 (jiù) is often translated simply as "just" or "only," but there are some nuances to how it is used.
Contents
Using 就 to mean "only have"
Subj. + 就 + Number + Measure Word + Noun
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 one bathroom ?
- 我 在 上海 就 两 个 朋友。I only have two friends in Shanghai.
- 他家 就 一个 男孩 。His family only has one boy .
- 房间 里 就 一 张 床，一 张 桌子。There's only one bed and one table in the room.
When there are some other verbs in this structure, you need to put it right after 就（jiù）.
Subj. + 就 + [Verb Phrase]
Examples
- 这 家 公司 我 就 认识 一 个 人。I've only known one guy in this company .
- 来 上海 以后 他 就 回 过 两 次 家。He's only gone back home twice since he came to Shanghai.
- 她 在 我们公司 就 工作 了 不到 两个 月。She has worked at our company for less than two months.
- 我老板 就 会 说 几 句 英文。 My boss can only speak a few sentences in English.
- 你 怎么 就 点 了 这 几个 菜？How could you only order such a few dishes ?
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 + ⋯⋯
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 everyone is an idiot? That only you understand well?
- 这 种 情况 就 你 能 处理 。You are the only person who can deal with this kind of situation.
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
