Adding emphasis with "jiushi"

就是 (jiùshì) can be used to add many different types of emphasis.

It can be used in the following ways:

To intensify adjectives

就是 can be used to modify an adjective to mean "really", or "really that and nothing else".

For example:

• 他 就是 聪明，考试 怎么可能 不 及格。
• 我 真的 什么 都 没 做，他 就是 对 我 有 偏见。

To express resoluteness

Used before a verb, this usage has the feeling that the speaker is being stubborn and is unwilling to change their mind, and that's just the way it is.

• 我 老公 就是 爱 抽烟，他 压根儿 不会 戒!
• 我 就是 不 去，我 一向 都 不 爱 去 酒吧，今晚 不 是 个 例外。
• 他 就是 不 相信 星座，你 怎么 跟 他 解释 也 没 用。

To limit the scope of verbs and adjectives

就是(jiù shì) can be used before verbs and adjectives to emphasize to limit the scope of what the speaker is talking about, eliminating other options. This is a bit like "only", or "just" in English. This is quite similar to the first usage.

Some examples:

• 警察，你 看 你 看，就是 他，你 快 点 去 抓！(Emphasizing that it's that person, no one else)
• 所有 的 人 都 准时 到，就是 小 杨 迟到。 (Emphasizing that only 小杨 was late, everyone else was on time)
• 我 对 别 人 没有 什么 印象，就是 对 你 印象 深刻。(Emphasizing that it was only you which made an impression on me)

Sources and further reading

Websites

http://baike.baidu.com/view/546642.htm http://www.nciku.com/search/zh/detail/%E5%B0%B1%E6%98%AF/1308257