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 Usage
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 (+ Obj.) + 就 + Verb (+ Obj.)
Examples
- 你 想 来 就 来 。If you want to come, come.
- 想 吃 就 吃 ，不用 问 我 。If you want to eat, help yourself. You don't need to ask me.
- 别 害怕 ，想唱 就 大声 唱 。Don't be afraid. If you want to sing, sing loudly.
- 想 问 就 问 ，考虑 那么 多 干吗 ？If you want to ask, ask. Why would you consider so much?
- 想 跑 就 跑 ，哪有 那么 容易 ？Isn't it too easy that you just leave when you want to run away?
Used with Question Word
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 any specific thing. 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 + Verb + Question Word + 就 + Verb + Question Word
Examples
- 想 去 哪儿 就 去哪儿 。 Wherever you want to go, go there.
- 你 想 吃 什么 就 吃 什么 ， 我 无所谓 。 Eat whatever you want, I don't care.
- 我 想怎么 做 就 怎么 做 ，不 关 你 的 事 。 I will do it how I want to do it. It has nothing to do with you.
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…"
- Expressing "Anyway" as "fanzheng"
Sources and further reading
Books
- 现代汉语虚词例释 (p. 305)→buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (p. 272) →buy
- 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 59, 104-5) →buy (Indefinite References)
- 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册） (p. 414)→buy (Indefinite References)
Dictionaries
- 现代汉语词典（第5版） (p. 145) →buy
