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.
  
== Structure with 就 meaning "only have" ==
+
== Used as "Only" ==
  
就(jiù)can mean "only have".
+
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.
<div class="jiegou">
+
 
 +
=== Used Before the Subject ===
  
Subj. + 就 + ⋯⋯
+
==== Structure ====
  
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
就 + Subj. + Predicate
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
=== Examples ===
+
The [[predicate]] part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective.
 +
 
 +
==== Examples ====
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* <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 呢?<span class="pinyin">Wèishéme zhèlǐ <em>jiù</em> yīgè cèsuǒ ne?</span><span class="trans">Why does this place only have one bathroom ?</span>
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*这 件 事 <em>就</em> 我 知道 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn shì <em>jiù</em> wǒ zhīdào.</span><span class="trans">I'm the only person that knows about this.</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>
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*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. Only he still remembers it.</span>
* 他家 <em>就</em> 一个 男孩 。<span class="pinyin"> Tā jiā <em>jiù</em> yīgè nánhái.</span><span class="trans">His family only has one boy .</span>
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*大家 都 下班 了 ,<em>就</em> 老板 还 没 走 。<span class="pinyin">Dàjiā dōu xiàbān le, <em>jiù</em> lǎobǎn hái méi zǒu.</span><span class="trans">Everyone finished work and left. Only the boss hasn't left.</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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*其他 的 菜 都 很 好吃,<em>就</em> 这 两 个 菜 有点 咸 。<span class="pinyin">Qítā de cài dōu hěn hǎochī, <em>jiù</em> zhè liǎng gè cài yǒudiǎn xián.</span><span class="trans">The other dishes are great. Just these two dishes are a little salty.</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 else is an idiot? That only you are smart?</span>
 +
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
When there are some other verbs in this structure, you need to put it right after 就(jiù).
+
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.
  
<div class="jiegou">
+
=== Used Before the Predicate ===
  
Subj. + 就 + Verb + ⋯⋯
+
==== Structure ====
  
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
Subj. + 就 + [Verb Phrase]
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
=== Examples ===
+
In this structure, the verb phrase is going to include some kind of [[measure word]].
 +
 
 +
==== Examples ====
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 这家公司 我 <em>就</em> 认识 一个 人。<span class="pinyin"> Zhè jiā gōngsī wǒ <em>jiù</em> rènshi gè rén.</span><span class="trans">I've only known one guy in this company .</span>
+
 
* 来上海以后 他 <em>就</em> 回 过 两次 家。<span class="pinyin"> Lái shànghǎi yǐhòu, tā <em>jiù</em> huí guò liǎng cì jiā .</span><span class="trans">He's only gone back home twice since he came to Shanghai.</span>
+
*我 <em>就</em> 去 过 一 次 。<span class="pinyin"><em>jiù</em> qù guo .</span><span class="trans">I've only been there once.</span>
* 她 在 我们公司 <em>就</em> 工作 不到 两个 月。<span class="pinyin">Tā zài wǒmen gōngsī <em>jiù</em> gōngzuò le bú dào liǎng gè yuè.</span><span class="trans">She has worked at our company for less than two months.</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 miànbāo.</span><span class="trans">I only had a piece of bread for breakfast.</span>
* 我老板 <em>就</em> 会 说 几 句 英文。<span class="pinyin"> Wǒ lǎobǎn <em>jiù</em> huì shuō jǐjù yīngwén.</span><span class="trans"> My boss can only speak a few sentences in English.</span>
+
*<em>就</em> 两 个 菜 ?<span class="pinyin"><em>jiù</em> diǎn le liǎng gè cài?</span><span class="trans">You ordered only two dishes?</span>
* 你 怎么 <em>就</em> 点了 这 几个 菜?<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ zěnme <em>jiù</em> diǎn le zhè jǐ cài ?</span><span class="trans">How could you only order such a few 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>
 +
*她 在 我们 公司 <em>就</em> 工作 了 两个 月。<span class="pinyin">Tā zài wǒmen gōngsī <em>jiù</em> gōngzuò le liǎng yuè.</span><span class="trans">She has worked at our company for only two months.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Structure with  就 meaning "just one" ==
+
== 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. Just use 就.)
  
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 ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
+
Subj. + 就 + Number + [Measure Word] + Noun 
就 + ⋯⋯
 
 
 
 
</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 yīgè rén zhīdào.</span><span class="trans">I'm the only person that knows about this.</span>
+
 
* 你 觉得 别人 都 是 傻子 吗?<em>就</em> 你 懂 得 多?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ juédé biérén dōu shì shǎzi ma? <em>Jiù</em> nǐ dǒngdé duō?</span><span class="trans">Do you think everyone is an idiot? That only you understand well?</span>
+
*这里 <em>就</em> 一 个 厕所 ?<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ <em>jiù</em> yī gè cèsuǒ?</span><span class="trans">Does this place only have one bathroom?</span>
* 这 种 情况 <em>就</em> 你 能 处理 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng  <em>jiù</em> nǐ néng chǔlǐ.</span><span class="trans">You are the only person who can deal with this kind of situation.</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>
 +
*<em>就</em> 一 个 哥哥 。<span class="pinyin"><em>jiù</em> yī gè gēge.</span><span class="trans">I only have one brother.</span>
 +
*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>
 +
*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>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==See also==
+
== See also ==
  
 
*[[Comparing "cai" and "jiu"]]
 
*[[Comparing "cai" and "jiu"]]
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
*[[现代汉语虚词例释]] (p. 315)[http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B004323J90/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]
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{{Source|现代汉语虚词例释|315}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 175-6) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)|175-6}}
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)]] (p. 120) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy]
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)|120}}
* [[外国人实用汉语语法]] (p. 570)[http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA →buy]
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{{Source|A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) |570}}
  
 
=== Dictionaries ===
 
=== Dictionaries ===
 +
 
* [[现代汉语词典(第5版)]] (p. 733) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/dp/B001B1RZCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693609&sr=8-1 →buy]
 
* [[现代汉语词典(第5版)]] (p. 733) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/dp/B001B1RZCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693609&sr=8-1 →buy]
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|就|B1|Subj. + 就 + (只) + Verb;就 + ⋯⋯|我 <em>就</em> 只 要 两 块 钱。 <em>就</em> 我 一 个 人 知道。|grammar point|ASGPW8PP}}
+
{{Basic Grammar|就|B1|就 + Subject + Predicate|这 件 事 <em>就</em> 我 一 个 人 知道 。|grammar point|ASGPW8PP}}
 
{{Used for|Describing actions}}
 
{{Used for|Describing actions}}
 
{{Used for|Describing things}}
 
{{Used for|Describing things}}

Latest revision as of 08:14, 26 November 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 the 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.
  • 其他 的 菜 都 很 好吃, 这 两 个 菜 有点 咸 。Qítā de cài dōu hěn hǎochī, jiù zhè liǎng gè cài yǒudiǎn xián.The other dishes are great. 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 else 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]

In this structure, the verb phrase is going to include some kind of measure word.

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 miànbāo.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. 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