Meaning
就 is one of the most versatile and frequently used words in Mandarin. Its core meaning relates to immediacy, emphasis, or limitation. It can indicate that something happens sooner than expected, emphasize that something is simply or merely the case, or connect cause and effect in conditional sentences.
Usage
Native speakers use 就 constantly in everyday speech. It often appears before verbs to show immediacy (我就来 'I'm coming right now') or to emphasize simplicity (就这样 'just like this'). In conditional sentences, 就 pairs with 如果 or other conditionals to mean 'then'. The placement and tone of 就 significantly affects meaning, so learners should pay attention to context.
Examples
- 01我吃完饭就去找你。.I'll come find you right after I finish eating.
- 02这个问题很简单，就是加法。, .This problem is very simple, it's just addition.
Common collocations
- 就是exactly, precisely; even if
- 就要about to, going to soon
- 就算even if, even though
- 就这样just like this, that's all
Origin
就 originally depicted someone moving toward food or approaching something, suggesting the meaning of 'going toward' or 'accomplishing'. Over time it evolved into its current grammatical functions emphasizing immediacy and completion.