adv.
To approach or go toward a high place, drawing close to the target. Then, precisely, just, already—marks immediacy, emphasis, and logical closeness.
就
prep.
with regard to; concerning
Common Usage & Traps
- 就要...了 — be about to do something
- 就是 — exactly; precisely
- 马上就来 — will come right away
- 早就...了 — already happened long ago
- 一...就... — as soon as...
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我就吃饭我就要吃饭了For 'I'm about to eat', 就 alone is not enough. You need 就要 before the verb and 了 at the end.
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它们昨天没有就吃的东西了它们昨天就没有吃的东西了就 goes before 没有, not after it, when you mean 'already none as early as yesterday'.
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我一回家睡觉我一回家就睡觉For 'as soon as', the pattern needs 一...就..., not just two actions next to each other.
Can I say 我就吃饭 when I mean 'I'm about to eat'?
No: 'about to' needs 就要...了, not 就 alone.
就 alone often means 'then' or 'right away' in a plain statement. When English says 'be about to', Chinese wraps the action with 就要 before the verb and 了 at the end. So 'I'm about to eat' is 我就要吃饭了. 我就吃饭 sounds like 'I'll just eat' or an unfinished thought.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | 就要...了 = about to | 就 alone = then/right away/just |
| Sentence | 我就要吃饭了。 | 我就吃饭。 |
| Missing pieces | 要 before verb + 了 at end | Dropping 要 and 了 |
Why does 他七点就来了 sound early, but 他七点才来 sound late?
就 makes the time feel early; 才 makes it feel late.
就 and 才 are mirrors for timing. 就 says something happened sooner or faster than expected. 才 says it happened later or slower than expected. So 七点就来了 means he showed up by seven, early or surprising. 七点才来 means he did not show up until seven, late or annoying.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Early feeling | 他七点就来了。 | 他七点才来。 |
| Late feeling | 他七点才来。 | 他七点就来了。 |
| Rule | 就 = earlier than expected | 才 = later than expected |
In 它们昨天就没有吃的东西了, why is 就 used before 没有?
就 stresses that the food was already gone yesterday.
Here 就 does not mean 'then' or 'right away'. It pushes the timeline earlier: the animals had no food as early as yesterday. The sentence already has 了 at the end, so 就 adds 'already' or 'this early' flavor. Without 就, 它们昨天没有吃的东西了 still works, but it sounds less dramatic.
“它们昨天就没有吃的东西了。” (They already had no food yesterday.)
“它们昨天就没有吃的东西了。” (They already had no food yesterday.)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Emphasis | 它们昨天就没有吃的东西了。 | 它们昨天没有就吃的东西了。 |
| Meaning | Food was already gone yesterday. | Food was gone only yesterday? |
| Word order | Subject + time + 就 + 没有 + noun + 了 | 就 after 没有 or before time word |
What extra punch does 就是 add in 就是这个?
就是 means 'this exact one', not just plain 'is'.
就是 is 就 plus 是. The 就 locks onto the exact thing you mean, so 就是这个 means 'this exact one' or 'it is precisely this'. Plain 是这个 just says 'is this'. In speech, 就是 can also mean 'yeah, exactly' when agreeing. Stress 就 if you want to sound firm.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Exact pick | 就是这个。 | 是这个。 |
| Word order | 就是 + noun | 是 + 就 + noun |
| Tone | Firm, exact | Flat, plain |
Why does 我一回家就睡觉 mean 'as soon as I get home', not 'then I sleep'?
一...就... links two actions with almost no gap.
The pattern 一 A 就 B means B happens the moment A happens. It is not a slow 'first A, then later B'. So 我一回家就睡觉 means I hit the bed as soon as I walk in. You can also use it for habits, like 他一回家就吃饭.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| As soon as | 我一回家就睡觉。 | 我一回家睡觉。 |
| Pattern | 一 + event + 就 + result | 一 + event + 然后 + result |
| Habit | 他一回家就吃饭。 | 他一回家吃饭就。 |
Appears in Stories 10 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
Learn the fascinating story behind the Chinese idiom '东山再起' (Dongshan Zaiji), which means to make a comeback. Discover its historical roots and modern usage.
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但谢安不想做官，多次拒绝了朝廷的邀请， 就 住在会稽的东山（今天的浙江省会稽山），和朋友一起游玩。
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比如，一个公司破产了，老板又重新创业赚钱，我们 就 可以说“他东山再起了”。
Follow Xiao Li as he copes with the effects of forest fires near his home in the US and reflects on environmental changes. A thoughtful story for HSK 4 learners.
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这里的森林 就 在大海旁边，过去一直比较凉快。
This humorous dialogue follows a man who spends all his savings on his girlfriend's Apple phone and a lucky number, leaving him broke. A fun read for HSK 3 learners.
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A： 就 为这个？
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我们明年十月 就 结婚。
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
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旁边的人都在给他敬酒，他每次都端起来酒杯，嘴唇沾沾杯沿 就 放下。
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我坐他对面，看见他把那块肉夹起来，放到了骨碟边沿，跟那根早 就 夹过来，但其实没吃的青菜并排摆着，整整齐齐。
Think instant noodles are unhealthy? This HSK 6 article challenges common myths and reveals surprising facts about nutrition, oil, and salt in this convenient food.
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今天我们 就 来为方便面说两句话——方便面真的是被大家误会了。
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就是说，没有任何一种食物可以提供全面营养，也 就 没有任何人只吃一种食物 就 可以完全满足身体的需要。
Is four years to reach HSK 5 fast or slow? Follow a conversation between two learners as they compare study hours and share realistic strategies for busy adults.
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B：我们说话的时候，只说“汉语” 就 可以了，就是说“中文老师、汉语老师”都可以。
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大家能听懂你的意思 就 可以了。
Discover how a simple letter from a cookie seller led to an unexpected friendship with a famous scholar. This heartwarming story explores kindness and connection across social divides.
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胡之适看到饼干，笑了，说：“我早 就 吃过了。
This is a short dialogue about a shopping trip. A woman buys many things, including food, drinks, furniture, and pet food, while her boyfriend reminds her not to overspend.
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它们昨天 就 没有吃的东西了。
Meet Gao Youpeng, a friendly Beijing coworker who welcomes the narrator with local dishes and a simple language-exchange plan. This warm HSK 2 story is perfect for first readings about work and friendship.
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他今天从上海回来，晚上 就 和我去了一个饭馆儿吃北京菜。
Chat about where friends study Chinese while exploring 哪儿 and 哪里 across Beijing and Shanghai. Practice asking “where”, talking about “here” and “there”, and using the modest reply 哪里哪里 to accept a compliment.
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说“哪里” 就 可以。
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