AdverbsHSK 4

Expressing "small quantity" with 就

就 + subject + predicate emphasizes that the subject is the only one doing the action or having a quality, implying a small quantity. Use it to single out one person or thing among others. The predicate can be a verb or an adjective, and the pattern often contrasts with a previous clause mentioning others.

Structure

就 + Subj. + Predicate

the predicate can be a verb or an adjective

Examples

这件事就我知道。
Zhè jiàn shì jiù wǒ zhī dào.
I'm the only person that knows about this.
我们都忘了，就他还记得。
Wǒ men dōu wàng le, jiù tā hái jì de.
We all forgot. Only he still remembers it.
大家都下班了，就老板还没走。
Dà jiā dōu xià bān le, jiù lǎo bǎn hái méi zǒu.
Everyone finished work and left. Only the boss hasn't left.
其他的菜都很好吃，就这两个菜有点咸。
Qí tā de cài dōu hěn hǎo chī, jiù zhè liǎng gè cài yǒu diǎn xián.
The other dishes are great. Just these two dishes are a little salty.
你觉得别人都是傻子吗？就你聪明？
Nǐ jué de bié rén dōu shì shǎ zi ma? jiù nǐ cōng ming?
Do you think everyone else is an idiot? That only you are smart?

Words that use this

就jiù(after a suppositional clause) in that case; then; (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after; (same as 是) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly; only; as little as; as much as; as many as; to approach; to move towards; to undertake; to engage in; (often followed by 着) taking advantage of; (of food) to go with; with regard to; concerning; (pattern: 就 ... 也 ...) even if ... still ...; (pattern: 不 ... 就 ...) if not ... then must be ...