Difference between revisions of "Expressing earliness with "jiu""

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* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1]] (pp. 181-2) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1]] (pp. 181-2) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
 
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (pp. 102-3) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy]
 
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (pp. 102-3) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy]
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*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册)]] (p. 239)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]
  
 
=== Websites ===
 
=== Websites ===

Revision as of 06:07, 8 July 2013

Just as 才 can express lateness, 就 (jiù) can be used to indicate that something happened earlier than expected.

Structure

The pattern is as follows:

Subject + Time + 就 + Verb + Object

In English this might be expressed with "as early as", but usually it's not specifically marked.

Examples

  • 我们 早上 九点 上课,可是 他 八点 来了。We have class at nine in the morning, but he came at eight.
  • 她 十八 岁 大学 毕业 了。She graduated from college when she was only 18 years old.
  • 我们 上次 出去 玩,他 九点 回去 了。The last time we went out, he had to go back at nine.
  • 我 五 点 钟 到 了 饭馆,你 让 我 等 这么 久,罚 你 请客!I got to the restaurant at 5 o'clock. You made me wait for so long, so you need to pay the check.

From the example sentences it is clear that naturally occurs with a verb used after 就. This is because verbs following 就 generally have the feeling of being completed.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites