When 就 jiù is used as an adverb, it has many meanings and functions. We are going to learn the most important five in this blog.
我现在就去。Wǒ xiànzài jiù qù. I'll be going right away now.(就: at once; right away)
一会儿就得。 Yīhuìr jiù děi. It'll be ready in a minute.
今天我七点钟就来了。Jīntiān wǒ qī diǎn zhōng jiù lái le. I was here as early as 7 o'clock today. (就:as early as;already)
我星期一就给你钱。Wǒ Xīngqīyī jiù gěi nǐ qián. I'll pay you right on Monday.
他每天下了课就回家。Tā měitiān xià le kè jiù huíjiā.He comes home every day right after class.(就:as soon as; right after )
我吃了饭就出去了。Wǒ chī le fàn jiù chūqu le.As soon as I finished eating, I went out.
我一见他就生气。Wǒ yī jiàn tā jiù shēngqì.As soon as I see him, I get angry.
要是你来, 我就高兴了。Yào shì nǐ lái, wǒ jiù gāoxìng le. If you come, (then) I'll be very happy.(就:in that case; then)
如果不好好复习，你就不能通过明天的考试。Rúguǒ bù hǎohǎo fùxí, nǐ jiù bùnéng tōngguò míngtiān de kǎoshì. If you don't review well, you can not be able to pass tomorrow's test.
我就去过一次上海。Wǒ jiù qù guò yī cì Shànghǎi. I've been to Shanghai only once.(就: only; merely; just)
我就要几张纸。Wǒ jiùyào jǐ zhāng zhǐ. I just want a few sheets of paper.(就: just; merely)
你就是我要找的那个人。Nǐ jiù shì wǒ yào zhǎo de nàge rén. You are precisely the person I'm looking for.(就: just; exactly; precisely)
我不知道为什么, 我就不喜欢他。Wǒ bù zhīdao wèishénme, wǒ jiù bù xǐhuan tā. I don't know why, I just don't like him.(就: just; exactly; simply)
Please read the sentences and tell the difference of 就 jiù in the contexts.
"如果..., 就..." is an often-used pattern that is utilized in the same way that "If..., then..." is in English. The structure is 如果 + Statement + 就 + Result.For example,
如果他今年找不到工作，他就打算回国。If he can not find a job this year, he will go back to his country.
如果今天下大雪，你就呆在家吧。If there is a big storm today, you'd better stay at home.
如果你去的话，请帮我向他问好。If you go there, please say hi to him for me.［Note that 如果 can be used to mean "if" all by itself, but it's often used together with the phrase 的话 and "就" is optional. The structure is 如果 + Statement + 的话, （就）Result ］
"要是..., 就..." (yàoshi..., jiù...) is one of several ways to convey "If... Then..." It is very similar to 如果..., 就... in usage and formality. However, it is important to note that 要是 is considered to be even more informal (and is usually left more to spoken Chinese) than the common 如果 and used more frequently in the northern areas of China. The structure is 要是 + Statement + 就 + Result. For example,
要是他不来，咱们就走吧。If he does not come, let's go.
要是你累了，就歇会儿吧。If you feel tired, you'd better take a break.
"假如..., 就..." (jiǎrú..., jiù...) is yet another way to express "If..., then..." in Chinese, but it is much more formal than 要是 or 如果 are (in both written and spoken Chinese). The structure is 假如 + Statement + 就 + Result. For example,
假如我是你，我就戒烟。If I were you, I would give up smoking.
假如你不努力，你就不能考上理想的大学。If you do not work hard, you can not go to an ideal university.
"假使..., 就..." (jiáshǐ..., jiù...) is another way to phrase "If..., then..." in Chinese, with this pattern being one of the most formal. An important note is that this pattern is usually only used in written formal Chinese.The structure is假使 + Statement + 就 + Result.For example,
假使您同意，我们可以马上签合同。If you agree, we can sign the contract immediately.
假使你违约，那就得交违约金。If you broke the contract, you had to pay the penalty.
Please use the patterns in this post to connect the following sentences to make logical statements.
“意思”的意思是什么意思？ Are you wondering what the meaning of the Chinese word “意思yì sī”? There are actually many 意思 yì sī of the word “意思yì sī”. Let's see the following examples:
1. It usually refers to meaning.
For example: 什么意思？Shén me yì sī? What does it mean?
你的意思是什么？ Nǐ de yì sīshì shén me? What do you mean?
2. Express one’s regrets.
For example: 不好意思。 Bù hǎo yì sī. I am sorry/ Excuse me.
You can use it when someone is in the way or to apologize.
3. Suggest someone is shy.
For example: 她不好意思。Tā bù hǎo yì sī. She is shy.
别不好意思。Bié bù hǎo yì sī. Don’t be shy!
4. Convey modesty and politeness.
For example: 怎么好意思(after received a gift)。Zhěn me hǎo yì sī.
I can’t come up with an English translation, because it actually means nothing, like a way of saying It is very nice of you or you are welcome.
5. Gift or any giving.
For example: 给，这是小意思。Gěi, zhè shì xiǎo yì sī.
Here you are, just something for you,
6. A piece of cake.
For example: 喝酒小意思。Hē Jiǔ xiǎo yì sī.
Drinking is just a piece of cake. You can put anything in front of “xiǎo yì sī” means it’s easy to you.
7. Show a tendency.
For example: 天有想要下雨的意思。Tiān yǒu xiǎng yào xià yǔ de yì sī.
It seems it’s going to rain soon.
8. Interesting
For example: 学中文有意思。Xué zhōng wén yǒu yì sī.
Studying Chinese is a lot of fun. The structure is :
Something plus 有意思（yǒu yì sī), implying something which is interesting.
9. Funny
For example: 这个人真有意思。Zhè gè rén yǒu yì sī.
This guy is very funny. When you put someone instead of something in front of 有意思（yǒu yì sī), it’s a description of people’s characteristic.
10. Likes someone
For example: 他对这个女孩有意思。Tā duì zhè gè nǚ hái yǒu yì sī. He cares for this girl. Hehehe, now do you know “意思yì sī”的意思是什么意思？I hope you find this post 很有意思 ：） Please check out this dialogue and interpret the meaning of 意思 in different contexts:
tīng shuō xiǎo wáng zhǎng gōng zī le ，dàn wǒ de gōng zī méi zhǎng tài méi yì sī le
Da Li：听说小王涨工资了，但我的工资没涨，太没意思了。
I heard that Xiao Wang's salary has gone up, but mine hasn't. It’s so frustrating.
nà nǐ men lǎo bǎn shí me yì sī ā yào bú nǐ gěi tā yì sī yì sī
Xiao Lin：那你们老板什么意思啊？要不你给他意思意思？
What’s the meaning behind your boss’s actions?
How about giving him something to help move things along?
nà wǒ duō bú hǎo yì sī ā
Da Li：那我多不好意思啊。
It would make me feel embarrassed.
bú hǎo yì sī wǒ suí biàn shuō shuō
Xiao Lin：不好意思，我随便说说。
Sorry, it was just a casual remark.
In English, the words "that" and "so" are often used to increase the extent of an adjective (ex. "the weather is so good" or "the scenery is so beautiful"). In Chinese, 那么 (nàme) and 这么 (zhème) serve the same function. All you have to do to use this grammar structure is put the 那么 or 这么 in front of the adjective：Subject + 那么 / 这么 + Adjective .
尼亚加拉大瀑布这么漂亮，我要多拍一些照片。The Niagara Falls is so beautiful that I want to take more pictures.
加州的天气那么好，我很怀念。The weather in CA is so beautiful that I miss a lot.
You might be thinking "那 and 这 have different meanings. How can they be used the same way?" Well, there are some differences. "这么" is used when the thing you are talking about is close by, when you would say "this" or "这个". On the other hand, if the object is far away, you would use "那么". Furthermore, this distance doesn't have to be physical, it can also refer to time, so you would use "那么" with things like "yesterday" or "tomorrow".
今天的蔬菜这么新鲜，你买点儿吧。The veggies today are so fresh that you should buy some.
这件事没有你想的那样简单。This matter is not as simple as you thought.
Please rearrange the words and make sentences: 1. 这 书 本 这么 有意思 2. 以前 这个 那么 地方 美丽 3. 北京 房子 的 现在 贵 这么 4. 他 怎么 难看 以前 那么 5. 你 这么 晚 回家 怎么 今天
Rhetorical questions use the form of a question to emphasize a point, and as such the question does not require an answer. A typical English rhetorical question might be: "you're not saying you actually believe him, are you?". In Chinese, 难道 (nándào) is used as a marker to form this kind of question. For example, 难道你真的相信他吗？The structure is难道 + [rhetorical question]. Here are more examples:
难道你忘了吗？Can you have forgotten it already?
难道这个问题很难吗？Isn't this question very difficult?
Note that 难道 can only be used for rhetorical questions which could be answered with yes or no, and generally end with 吗.
难道我怎么会明白呢？［WRONG!!!： not a yes/no question.］
难道我什么时候才可以做完呀？［WRONG!!!： not a yes/no question.］
Please translate the sentences:
1. Don't you think this book is interesting?
2. Don't you think it is kind of like cute.
3. You talked with him. Aren't you friends?
4. You grew up in America. Can't you speak English?
5. She's leaving Buffalo. Shouldn't you say goodbye to her?
Rhetorically, a negative question is used to make a positive statement but a positive question is used to make a negative statement. Please take a look of the following two examples:
(Situation: Mr. Wang wants to buy a fancy car but Mrs. Wang points out that they can not afford such as car.)
王先生：这个车真不错，咱们怎么不买一辆呀？This car is really nice. Why don't we get one?!
王太太：谁不想买这种车？可是，咱们有这个钱吗？Who doesn't want to buy a car like this? But, do we have the money?
(Situation: Two brothers are fighting over some money left on the table. The younger one insists that money belongs to him and the older one uses a rhetorical question to say he can not prove it.)
弟弟：谁说这些钱不是我的？Who said the money was not mine?
哥哥：你说是你的，就是你的吗？上面写着你的名字了吗？ You said it's yours, and then are they really yours? Is your name written on it?
Please figure out the meaning of the following sentences:
这么好的天气，你能不喜欢吗？
你怎么会不知道Mark Zuckerberg呢？
这么重要的日子，你怎么忘记了呢？
这不就是新来的老板吗？
Please chose the RQ which matches the meaning of the statement:
父母最爱他们的孩子。
父母最疼爱他们的孩子吗？
父母最疼爱的不是他们的孩子。
父母最疼爱的不是他们的孩子吗？
张先生家庭和事业都很成功，他很幸福。
张先生家庭和事业都很成功，他很幸福吗？
张先生家庭和事业都很成功，他不是很幸福。
张先生家庭和事业都很成功，他不是很幸福吗？
她生病了，很不舒服。
她生病了，很不舒服吗？
她生病了，怎么能舒服呢？
她生病了，怎么能不舒服呢？
Please change the statement to a RQ by using the structure given:
这是陈太太。（不是......吗？）
这是不是Taylor Swift? （不是......吗？）
今天是星期一，你应该在学校上课呀。（不是......吗？）
作为学生，你应该努力学习。（不是......吗？）
他很不开心，你应该看得出来呀。（怎么......）
这么好的天气，你不应该呆在家。（怎么......）
都几点了？你该睡觉了！（怎么......）
Please choose the RQ in the following sentences:
1. 这是王老师吗？
2. 这不是王老师。
3. 这不是王老师吗？
4. 这个字怎么写呢？
5. 我怎么会忘了这个字怎么写呢？
6. 这个字怎么读，谁知道呀？
7. 这个字太难了，谁知道呀？
8. 你觉得他说的对吗？
9. 难道你觉得他说的对吗？
10. 这么重的书包，她怎么能提得动呢？
11. 这个书包，她提得动吗？
12. 这么重的书包，难道你觉得她提得动吗？
