Expressing "small quantity" with "jiu"

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"

Subj. + 就 + Number + Measure Word + Noun

Examples

• 我 就 两 块 钱。Wǒ jiù liǎng kuài qián.I only have two kuai.
• 为什么 这里 就 一 个 厕所 呢？Wèishéme zhèlǐ jiù yīgè cèsuǒ ne?Why does this place only have one bathroom ?
• 我 在 上海 就 两 个 朋友。Wǒ zài Shànghǎi jiù liǎng gè péngyou.I only have two friends in Shanghai.
• 他家 就 一个 男孩 。 Tā jiā jiù yīgè nánhái.His family only has one boy .
• 房间 里 就 一 张 床，一 张 桌子。Fángjiān lǐ jiù yī zhāng chuáng, yī zhāng zhuōzi.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。 Zhè jiā gōngsī wǒ jiù rènshi yī gè rén.I've only known one guy in this company .
• 来 上海 以后 他 就 回 过 两 次 家。 Lái shànghǎi yǐhòu, tā jiù huí guò liǎng cì jiā .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。Tā zài wǒmen gōngsī jiù gōngzuò le bú dào liǎng gè yuè.She has worked at our company for less than two months.
• 我老板 就 会 说 几 句 英文。 Wǒ lǎobǎn jiù huì shuō jǐjù yīngwén. My boss can only speak a few sentences in English.
• 你 怎么 就 点 了 这 几个 菜？ Nǐ zěnme jiù diǎn le zhè jǐ gè cài?How could you only order such a few dishes ?

Using 就 to mean "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。Zhè jiàn shì jiù wǒ yīgè rén zhīdào.I'm the only person that knows about this.
• 我们 都 忘 了 ，就 他 还 记得 。We all forgot about this. Only he still remembers it.
• 所有 的 菜 都 很 好吃，就 这个 菜 有点 太 咸 了 。All the food are delicious. Only this dish is a little too salty.
• 大家 都 下班 了 ，就 老板 在 加班。Everyone finished work and left the office. Only the boss is working overtime.
• 你 觉得 别人 都 是 傻子 吗？就 你 聪明？Nǐ juédé biérén dōu shì shǎzi ma? Jiù nǐ cōngming?Do you think everyone is an idiot? That only you are the smart one?

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

HSK4