Difference between revisions of "Expressing "as one likes" with "jiu""

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*<em>想</em> 吃 <em>就</em> 吃 ,不用 问 我 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Xiǎng</em> chī <em>jiù</em> chī, bùyòng wèn wǒ.</span><span class="trans">If you want to eat, help yourself. You don't need to ask me.</span>
 
*<em>想</em> 吃 <em>就</em> 吃 ,不用 问 我 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Xiǎng</em> chī <em>jiù</em> chī, bùyòng wèn wǒ.</span><span class="trans">If you want to eat, help yourself. You don't need to ask me.</span>
 
*别 害怕 ,<em>想</em>唱 <em>就</em> 大声 唱 。<span class="pinyin">Bié hàipà, <em>xiǎng</em> chàng <em>jiù</em> dàshēng chàng.</span><span class="trans">Don't be afraid. If you want to sing, sing loudly.</span>
 
*别 害怕 ,<em>想</em>唱 <em>就</em> 大声 唱 。<span class="pinyin">Bié hàipà, <em>xiǎng</em> chàng <em>jiù</em> dàshēng chàng.</span><span class="trans">Don't be afraid. If you want to sing, sing loudly.</span>
*<em>想</em> <em>就</em> 问 ,考虑 那么 多 干吗 ?<span class="trans">If you want to ask, ask. Why would you consider so much?</span>
+
*<em>想</em> <em>就</em> 做,考虑 那么 多 干吗 ?<span class="pinyin"><em>Xiǎng</em> zuò <em>jiù</em> zuò, kǎolǜ nàme duō gànmá?</span><span class="trans">If you want to do it, do it. Why would you consider so much?</span>
 
*<em>想</em> 跑 <em>就</em> 跑 ,哪有 那么 容易 ?<span class="pinyin"><em>Xiǎng</em> pǎo <em>jiù</em> pǎo, nǎ yǒu nàme róngyì?</span><span class="trans">Isn't it too easy that you just leave when you want to run away?</span>
 
*<em>想</em> 跑 <em>就</em> 跑 ,哪有 那么 容易 ?<span class="pinyin"><em>Xiǎng</em> pǎo <em>jiù</em> pǎo, nǎ yǒu nàme róngyì?</span><span class="trans">Isn't it too easy that you just leave when you want to run away?</span>
  

Revision as of 03:47, 13 September 2017


When we want to express "to do something as one pleases," we can use the "想 verb +就 verb" form.

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

  • 来 。xiǎng lái jiù lái.If you want to come, come.
  • 吃 ,不用 问 我 。Xiǎng chī jiù chī, bùyòng wèn wǒ.If you want to eat, help yourself. You don't need to ask me.
  • 别 害怕 , 大声 唱 。Bié hàipà, xiǎng chàng jiù dàshēng chàng.Don't be afraid. If you want to sing, sing loudly.
  • 做,考虑 那么 多 干吗 ?Xiǎng zuò jiù zuò, kǎolǜ nàme duō gànmá?If you want to do it, do it. Why would you consider so much?
  • 跑 ,哪有 那么 容易 ?Xiǎng pǎo jiù pǎo, nǎ yǒu nàme róngyì?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 + Question Word + 就 + Question Word

Examples

  • 去 哪儿 去哪儿 。 Xiǎng qù nǎr jiù qù nǎr.You can go wherever you like to go.
  • 请 谁 请 谁 。 Xiǎng qǐng shéi jiù qǐng shéi.You can invite whoever you like to invite.
  • 什么 时候 来 什么 时候 来 。 You can come whenever you like.
  • 点 什么 点 什么 ,我 请客 。 Xiǎng diǎn shénmejiù diǎn shénme, wǒ qǐngkè.You can order whatever you like. I'm buying.
  • 这些 钱 我 怎么 花 怎么 花 ,不 关 你 的 事 。 Zhèxiē qián wǒ xiǎng zěnme huā jiù zěnme huā, bù guān nǐ de shì.I will spend the money however I like. It has nothing to do with you.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries