Expressing "then" with "jiu"

The adverb (jiù) has quite a few uses in Chinese, and appears in several common patterns. This is the first and simplest usage you need to know, though, and it means something similar to "then."

Structure

Usually the first part of the sentence will set up a situation. Then the second part, with 就 (jiù) leading the way, indicates what should be done as a result.

..., 就 + Verb Phrase

Examples

Not always easy to translate, you could think of 就 (jiù) as meaning "just" or "then."

  • 你 喜欢 喝 奶茶,我们 买 奶茶 吧。Nǐ xǐhuan hē nǎichá, wǒmen jiù mǎi nǎichá ba..
  • 你 最 有 经验, 听 你的 吧。Nǐ zuì yǒu jīngyàn, jiù tīng nǐ de ba..
  • 我 听到 这个 坏 消息, 给 你 打 电话 了。Wǒ tīngdào zhège huài xiāoxi, jiù gěi nǐ dǎ diànhuà le..
  • 你 现在 身体 不 好, 不 要 喝酒 了。Nǐ xiànzài shēntǐ bù hǎo, jiù bù yào hē jiǔ le...
  • 他 最近 太 累 了, 生病 了。Tā zuìjìn tài lèi le, jiù shēngbìng le..
  • 今天下雨,我们 不 出去 了。Jīntiān xiàyǔ, wǒmen jiù bù chūqù le..
  • 妈妈 没有 给 他 买 书包,他 哭 了。Māma méiyǒu gěi tā mǎi shūbāo, tā jiù kū le..
  • 在 这 家 店 吃饭 吧,那 家 店 人 太 多 了。Jiù zài zhè jiā diàn chīfàn ba, nà jiā diàn rén tài duō le ..
  • 去 看 电影 吧。Jiù qù kàn diànyǐng ba..

See also

Sources and further reading

Books