The Adverb "就" (jiù)

In Mandarin Chinese, the adverb "就" (jiù) has various uses and can convey different meanings such as indicating immediacy, emphasizing a result, showing that something is sooner than expected, and others. It is a versatile word that plays an important role in expressing nuances in sentences.

Usage:

• Indicating Immediacy: "就" can be used to indicate that something happens immediately after another action.
  • 我一到家 就 吃饭。(Wǒ yí dào jiā jiù chīfàn.) - As soon as I get home, I eat.
• Emphasizing a Result: "就" can emphasize the result or outcome of an action.
  • 这样做 就 对了。(Zhèyàng zuò jiù duì le.) - Doing it this way is correct.
• Sooner Than Expected: "就" can show that something happened earlier or sooner than expected.
  • 他五点 就 来了。(Tā wǔ diǎn jiù lái le.) - He came as early as five o'clock.
• Only: "就" can be used to express a small quantity or a limit.
  • 房间里 就 你一个人。(Fángjiān lǐ jiù nǐ yí gè rén.) - There is only you in the room.
• In Conditional Sentences: "就" is used in conditional sentences to indicate the result.
  • 如果你去，我 就 去。(Rúguǒ nǐ qù, wǒ jiù qù.) - If you go, then I'll go.

Examples:

• 我马上 就 来。(Wǒ mǎshàng jiù lái.) - I’ll come right away.
• 听到消息后，他 就 走了。(Tīngdào xiāoxi hòu, tā jiù zǒu le.) - He left immediately after hearing the news.
• 她一说完，大家 就 明白了。(Tā yī shuō wán, dàjiā jiù míngbai le.) - As soon as she finished speaking, everyone understood.

Additional Notes:

• The meaning of "就" can vary greatly depending on the context, so it's important to consider the entire sentence to understand its precise meaning.When used in combination with "才" (cái), "就" often indicates a contrast between something happening sooner than expected versus later than expected.