Expressing "as one likes" with "jiu"
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When we want to express "to do something as one pleases," we can use the "想 verb 就 verb" form.
Contents
Basic Pattern
This structure is similar to how we would say in English "Whatever I want to eat, I eat" or "Wherever I want to go, I go." What comes after the 想 and 就 are the same verb.
Structure
想 + Verb + 就 + Verb
Examples
- 想 吃 就 吃 。If you want to eat, help yourself.
- 想 走 就 走 吧 。Leave if you want to.
- 想 买 就 买 ，不用 问 我 。If you want to buy, go ahead. You don't need to ask me.
- 别 害怕 ，想 说 就 说 。Don't be afraid. If you want to say, say it.
- 想 做 就 做 ，考虑 那么 多 干吗 ？If you want to do it, do it. Why would you consider so much?
Advanced Pattern
You can also add in a question word, like 什么, 哪儿, or 怎么. When this is the case, the pronouns don't necessarily refer to anything specific. They can be seen more as words like "whatever" or "wherever." This way, question pronouns (什么,谁,什么时候,etc) serve as "indefinite references."
Structure
想 + [Question Word] + 就 + [Question Word]
Examples
- 想 去 哪儿 就 去 哪儿 。You can go wherever you like to go.
- 想 请 谁 就 请 谁 。You can invite whoever you like to invite.
- 想 什么 时候 来 就 什么 时候来 。You can come whenever you like.
- 想 点 什么 就 点 什么 ，我 请客 。You can order whatever you like. I'm buying.
- 这些 钱 我 想 怎么 花 就 怎么 花 。I will spend the money however I like.
See also
- "If…, then…" with "ruguo…, jiu…"
- Expressing "Anyway" as "fanzheng"
- Conditions with "yao" and "jiu"
- Expressing indifference with "jiu"
Sources and further reading
Books
- 现代汉语虚词例释 (pp. 305) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 272) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 59, 104-5) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy (Indefinite References)
- 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册） (pp. 414) [ →buy] (Indefinite References)
Dictionaries
- 现代汉语词典（第5版） (pp. 145) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy
