Meanings of 就
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About 就
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Podcast: 就
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AI Study Notes for 就
就 (jiù) vs 只 (zhǐ) — use 就 when emphasizing immediacy or certainty, while 只 focuses on limitation or exclusivity.
Imagine a person named Joe (pronounced similarly to 'jiù') who always does things right away. When you think of Joe, picture him jumping into action immediately, which helps you remember that 就 means 'right away' or 'just'. The radical for movement (走) is also present, linking it to the idea of approaching or undertaking something.
Common mistakes include using 就 in overly formal contexts where another term may be more suitable. It can also be misused in negative sentences; learners should remember that in such contexts, 就 can indicate an exception. Pay attention to the tone, as it can change the meaning from 'just' to 'to approach'.
As an HSK Level 2 word, 就 is foundational for expressing immediacy and emphasis in sentences. It connects to other common words like '才' (cái) and '已经' (yǐjīng), which also deal with time and conditions. Students should practice using 就 in various sentence structures to gain fluency.
The use of 就 in everyday conversation reflects a cultural emphasis on efficiency and directness in communication. Chinese speakers often prefer to get to the point quickly, and 就 helps convey that immediacy in actions or decisions.
Learners often confuse 就 with other similar words like '才' (cái) or '再' (zài), leading to sentences like '我就去才' (I just go then), which is incorrect. The correct form would be '我就去' (I'll just go).
Pronunciation of 就
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Etymology of 就
Phonosemantic compound. 京 represents the meaning and 尤 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "achieve". The meaning of this character has shifted over time and now means "high place".
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Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 就
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Write 就
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Practice writing 就 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 就
就 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 23 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
我在排队呢，马上____到你。
I'm in line; I'll be with you soon.
Example Sentences for 就 (10)
Cultural Notes for 就
The use of 就 in everyday conversation reflects a cultural emphasis on efficiency and directness in communication. Chinese speakers often prefer to get to the point quickly, and 就 helps convey that immediacy in actions or decisions.
Word Family of 就
Compound Meaning
What does 鹫 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 就
Use 就 when you want to emphasize immediacy or certainty, especially in informal contexts. For example, '我就去' (I'll go right away) highlights the promptness.