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

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*我 <em>就</em> 去 过 一 次 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>jiù</em> qù guo yī cì.</span><span class="trans">I've only been there once.</span>
 
*我 <em>就</em> 去 过 一 次 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>jiù</em> qù guo yī cì.</span><span class="trans">I've only been there once.</span>
*我 早饭 <em>就</em> 吃 了 一 片 面包 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zǎofàn <em>jiù</em> chī le yī piàn
+
*我 早饭 <em>就</em> 吃 了 一 片 面包。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zǎofàn <em>jiù</em> chī le yī piàn miàn bāo.</span><span class="trans">I only had a piece of bread for breakfast.</span>
miànbāo. </span><span class="trans">I only had a piece of bread for breakfast.</span>
 
 
*你 <em>就</em> 点 了 两 个 菜 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>jiù</em> diǎn le liǎng gè cài?</span><span class="trans">You ordered only two dishes?</span>
 
*你 <em>就</em> 点 了 两 个 菜 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>jiù</em> diǎn le liǎng gè cài?</span><span class="trans">You ordered only two dishes?</span>
 
*他 的 事 ,我们 <em>就</em> 知道 一点点 。<span class="pinyin">Tā de shì, wǒmen <em>jiù</em> zhīdào yīdiǎndiǎn.</span><span class="trans">We only know a little about his business.</span>
 
*他 的 事 ,我们 <em>就</em> 知道 一点点 。<span class="pinyin">Tā de shì, wǒmen <em>jiù</em> zhīdào yīdiǎndiǎn.</span><span class="trans">We only know a little about his business.</span>

Revision as of 09:35, 16 October 2018

就 (jiù) is often translated simply as "just" or "only," but there are some nuances to how it is used.

Used as "Only"

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 similar in order to emphasize the small quantity.

Used before Subject

Structure

就 + Subj. + Predicate

The predicate part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective.

Examples

  • 这 件 事 我 知道 。Zhè jiàn shì jiù wǒ 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. Only he still remembers it.
  • 大家 都 下班 了 , 老板 还没 走 。Dàjiā dōu xiàbān le, jiù lǎobǎn hái méi zǒu.Everyone finished work and left. Only the boss hasn't left.
  • 所有 的 菜 都 很 好吃, 这 两 个 菜 有点 咸 。Suǒyǒu de cài dōu hěn hǎochī, jiù zhè liǎng gè cài yǒudiǎn xián.All the food is delicious. Just these two dishes are a little salty.
  • 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 smart?

In this case, the 就 comes before the verb, and what's being emphasized as "small quantity" comes after the verb, either as an object or some other kind of small quantity.

Used before the Predicate

Structure

Subj. + 就 + [Verb Phrase]

Examples

  • 去 过 一 次 。jiù qù guo yī cì.I've only been there once.
  • 我 早饭 吃 了 一 片 面包。Wǒ zǎofàn jiù chī le yī piàn miàn bāo.I only had a piece of bread for breakfast.
  • 点 了 两 个 菜 ?jiù diǎn le liǎng gè cài?You ordered only two dishes?
  • 他 的 事 ,我们 知道 一点点 。Tā de shì, wǒmen jiù zhīdào yīdiǎndiǎn.We only know a little about his business.
  • 她 在 我们公司 工作 了 两个 月。Tā zài wǒmen gōngsī jiù gōngzuò le liǎng gè yuè.She has worked at our company for only two months.

Used as "Only Have"

In this case, 就 means "only have," similar in meaning to 只有. (In these cases, however, 就有 would not be correct, however. Just use 就.)

Structure

Subj. + 就 + Number + [Measure Word] + Noun

Examples

  • 这里 一 个 厕所 ?Zhèlǐ jiù yī gè cèsuǒ?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