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.

Basic Structure

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.

想 + Verb (+ Object) + 就 + Verb (+ Object )

Examples

  • 来。If you want to come, come.
  • 做,不想做就不做。Do what you want to do, don't do what you don't want to do.
  • 就 大声 唱,不 要 总是 小声 哼哼。If you want to sing, sing loudly, don't just hum softly.

Structure with a 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".

想 + Verb + question word + 就 + Verb + question word

Examples

  • 去哪儿去哪。Wherever you want to go, go there.
  • 吃什么吃什么,我无所谓。Eat whatever you want, I don't care.
  • 怎样怎样,不关你的事。I will do it how I want to do it. It has nothing to do with you.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries