Emphasis with "jiushi"
As an adverb, 就 (jiù) can be placed before the predicate to add emphasis. It often has an intense or provocative feel to it, like how we sometimes say in English "it's just not right!," or other similar phrases. It often appears as 就是.
Contents
就是 Used as "is exactly"
Structure
It's as simple as putting 就 in front of a verb. When 是 is used as the verb after 就，"是" can't be left out. "就是" means "is exactly".
就是 + Noun
Examples
- 你 就 是 个 笨蛋！You're exactly a moron!
- 他 就 是 个 骗子！He's exactly a liar!
- 乔布斯 就 是 我 的 偶像！Jobs is exactly my idol!
就是 Used to Mean "only because"
就是 can be used to intensify the predicate to mean "only (because of) that and nothing else."
Structure
就是 + Reason
- 她 就是 漂亮 ， 没什么 别的 优势 。 She's just pretty; she doesn't have any other advantage.
- 他 不 去 旅游 就是 不 想 花钱 。 He didn't travel only because he doesn't want to spend money.
- 你 不 参加 就是 怕 输 吗 ？ You don't attend this only because you're afraid of failure.
- 他 这样 说 我 就是 对 嫉妒 我 。 He talked about me like this only because he envies me.
就 Used with Other Verbs
When 就 is followed by other verbs, 是 can't be omitted. And it's also used in a negative form by putting 不 before the verb.
Structure
就（是）+ Verb
就（是）+ 不 + Verb
Examples
- 我 就 要 去！I just want to go!
- 我 就是 喜欢 他。I just like him.
- 我 就 不 告诉 你 。I'm just not going to tell you.
- 我 父母 就是 不 让 我 一个人 去 。 My parents just won't let me go alone.
- 这个 学生 就是不 听 老师 的 话 。The student just wouldn't listen to his teacher.
See also
- "Just" with "jiu"
- 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
Dictionaries
- 现代汉语词典（第5版） (p. 733) →buy
