Difference between revisions of "Expressing "small quantity" with "jiu""
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就 (jiù) is often translated simply as "just" or "only," but there are some nuances to how it is used. | 就 (jiù) is often translated simply as "just" or "only," but there are some nuances to how it is used. | ||
| − | == | + | == 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 === | === Structure === | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | + | 就 + [Single Subject] + Verb | |
| − | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * | + | *这 件 事 <em>就</em> 我 一 个 人 知道。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn shì <em>jiù</em> wǒ yī gè rén zhīdào.</span><span class="trans">I'm the only person that knows about this.</span> |
| − | * | + | *我们 都 忘 了 ，<em>就</em> 他 还 记得 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu wàng le, <em>jiù</em> tā hái jìde.</span><span class="trans">We all forgot this. Only he still remembers it.</span> |
| − | * | + | *所有 的 菜 都 很 好吃，<em>就</em> 这个 菜 有点 太 咸 了 。<span class="pinyin">Suǒyǒu de cài dōu hěn hǎochī, <em>jiù</em> zhège cài yǒudiǎn tài xián le.</span><span class="trans">All the food are delicious. Only this dish is a little too salty.</span> |
| − | * | + | *大家 都 下班 了 ，<em>就</em> 老板 还 在 办公室。<span class="pinyin">Dàjiā dōu xiàbān le, <em>jiù</em> lǎobǎn hái zài bàngōngshì.</span><span class="trans">Everyone finished work and left. Only the boss is still in the office.</span> |
| − | * | + | *你 觉得 别人 都 是 傻子 吗？<em>就</em> 你 聪明？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ juéde biérén dōu shì shǎzi ma? <em>Jiù</em> nǐ cōngming?</span><span class="trans">Do you think everyone is an idiot? That only you are the smart one?</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
| − | |||
| − | + | == Used as a Verb == | |
| + | |||
| + | In this case, "就" means "only have." | ||
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | 就 + | + | Subj. + 就 + Number + Measure Word + Noun |
| + | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * | + | *我 <em>就</em> 两 块 钱。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>jiù</em> liǎng kuài qián.</span><span class="trans">I only have two kuai.</span> |
| − | * | + | *为什么 这里 <em>就</em> 一 个 厕所？<span class="pinyin">Wèishéme zhèlǐ <em>jiù</em> yī gè cèsuǒ?</span><span class="trans">Why does this place only have one bathroom?</span> |
| − | * | + | *我 在 上海 <em>就</em> 两 个 朋友。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài Shànghǎi <em>jiù</em> liǎng gè péngyou.</span><span class="trans">I only have two friends in Shanghai.</span> |
| − | * | + | *他 家 <em>就</em> 一 个 孩子。<span class="pinyin"> Tā jiā <em>jiù</em> yī gè háizi.</span><span class="trans">His family only has one child.</span> |
| − | * | + | *房间 里 <em>就</em> 一 张 床，一 张 桌子。<span class="pinyin">Fángjiān lǐ <em>jiù</em> yī zhāng chuáng, yī zhāng zhuōzi.</span><span class="trans">There's only one bed and one table in the room.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | ==See also== | + | == See also == |
*[[Comparing "cai" and "jiu"]] | *[[Comparing "cai" and "jiu"]] | ||
Revision as of 02:15, 31 July 2017
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
就 (jiù) is often translated simply as "just" or "only," but there are some nuances to how it is used.
Contents
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。I'm the only person that knows about this.
- 我们 都 忘 了 ，就 他 还 记得 。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 。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。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？Do you think everyone is an idiot? That only you are the smart one?
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。I've only known one guy in this company.
- 来 上海 以后 他 就 回 过 两 次 家。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。She has worked at our company for less than two months.
- 我老板 就 会 说 几 句 英文。My boss can only speak a few sentences in English.
- 你 怎么 就 点 了 这 几 个 菜？How could you only order such a few dishes?
Used as a Verb
In this case, "就" means "only have."
Structure
Subj. + 就 + Number + Measure Word + Noun
Examples
- 我 就 两 块 钱。I only have two kuai.
- 为什么 这里 就 一 个 厕所？Why does this place only have one bathroom?
- 我 在 上海 就 两 个 朋友。I only have two friends in Shanghai.
- 他 家 就 一 个 孩子。His family only has one child.
- 房间 里 就 一 张 床，一 张 桌子。There's only one bed and one table in the room.
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
