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.

Used as a Verb

In this case, "就" means "only have."

Structure

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？Wèishéme zhèlǐ jiù yī gè cèsuǒ?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 孩子。 Tā jiā jiù yī gè háizi.His family only has one child.
• 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.

Followed by Verb Phrase

这种情况下，句子的宾语数量也都很小。包括名量、动量和时量。

Structure

Subj. + 就 + Verb-Obj.

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 jǐ jù 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?

Followed by Single Subject

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.

Structure

就 + [Single Subject] + Verb

Examples

• 这 件 事 就 我 一 个 人 知道。Zhè jiàn shì jiù wǒ yī gè rén zhīdào.I'm the only person that knows about this.
• 我们 都 忘 了 ，就 他 还 记得 。Wǒmen dōu wàng le, jiù tā hái jìde.We all forgot this. Only he still remembers it.
• 所有 的 菜 都 很 好吃，就 这个 菜 有点 太 咸 了 。Suǒyǒu de cài dōu hěn hǎochī, jiù zhège cài yǒudiǎn tài xián le.All the food are delicious. Only this dish is a little too salty.
• 大家 都 下班 了 ，就 老板 还 在 办公室。Dàjiā dōu xiàbān le, jiù lǎobǎn hái zài bàngōngshì.Everyone finished work and left. Only the boss is still in the office.
• 你 觉得 别人 都 是 傻子 吗？就 你 聪明？Nǐ juéde 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