Difference between revisions of "Expressing "small quantity" with "jiu""

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*<em>就</em> 两 块 钱。<span class="pinyin"><em>jiù</em> liǎng kuài qián.</span><span class="trans">I only have two kuai.</span>
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*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>
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*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> 朋友。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài Shànghǎi <em>jiù</em> liǎng péngyou.</span><span class="trans">I only have two friends in Shanghai.</span>
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*你们 家 <em>就</em> 一 个 孩子 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen jiā <em>jiù</em> yī gè háizi ma?</span><span class="trans">Does your family only have one child?</span>
*他 <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>
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*我 <em>就</em> 哥哥 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>jiù</em> gēge.</span><span class="trans">I only have one brother.</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>
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*他 在 上海 <em>就</em> 一 个 朋友 。<span class="pinyin">Tā zài Shànghǎi <em>jiù</em> yī gè péngyou.</span><span class="trans">He only has one friend in Shanghai.</span>
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*我们 公司 <em>就</em> 三 个 员工 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen gōngsī <em>jiù</em> sān gè yuángōng.</span><span class="trans">There are only three employees in our company.</span>
  
 
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Revision as of 03:16, 31 July 2017

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

就 + [Single Subject] + Verb

Examples

  • 这 件 事 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 , 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, 这个 菜 有点 咸 。Suǒyǒu de cài dōu hěn hǎochī, jiù zhège cài yǒudiǎn xián.All the food are delicious. Only this dish is a little salty.
  • 大家 都 下班 了 , 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? 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?

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 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 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 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 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 点 了 这 几 个 菜?Nǐ zěnme jiù diǎn le zhè jǐ gè cài?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

  • 为什么 这里 一 个 厕所 ?Wèishéme zhèlǐ jiù yī gè cèsuǒ?Why does this place only have one bathroom?
  • 你们 家 一 个 孩子 吗 ?Nǐmen jiā jiù yī gè háizi ma?Does your family only have one child?
  • 一 个 哥哥 。jiù yī gè gēge.I only have one brother.
  • 他 在 上海 一 个 朋友 。Tā zài Shànghǎi jiù yī gè péngyou.He only has one friend in Shanghai.
  • 我们 公司 三 个 员工 。Wǒmen gōngsī jiù sān gè yuángōng.There are only three employees in our company.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries

HSK4