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就jiù(after a suppositional clause) in that case; then

HSK 2word

By Chinese Copilot · Last updated

就 (jiù) means "then," "as soon as," or "only / just" as an adverb. After a situation is set up, 就 leads into the result. With 一…就… it marks one action right after another. It can also stress a small quantity, like "only."

What does 就 mean?

  1. 1.

    (after a suppositional clause) in that case; thenadverb

  2. 2.

    (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately afteradverb

  3. 3.

    only; as little as; merely; simply; justadverb

What does the character 就 mean?

  • 就(after a suppositional clause) in that case; then

How do you use 就?

Grammar patterns

  1. 1

    …，就 + Verb Phrase

    Set up a situation first, then use 就 before the verb phrase for the result, much like English "then" or "so… just."

  2. 2

    一 + Event 1，就 + Event 2

    Mark two events with 一 and 就 to say the second happens as soon as the first does.

  3. 3

    Subj. + 就 + Number + Measure + Noun

    Use 就 before a small quantity to mean "only" have that amount.

就 sits before the verb phrase; beginners can start with the "then" reading after a reason or condition, then add 一…就… for "as soon as."

Patterns

  • 一 + Verb，就 + Verb

    老师一来大家就不说话了。

    Lǎoshī yī lái dàjiā jiù bù shuōhuà le.

    As soon as the teacher came, everyone stopped talking.

  • 就 + Verb + 吧

    就去看电影吧。

    Jiù qù kàn diànyǐng ba.

    Let's just go watch a movie.

What are some examples of 就 in a sentence?

  1. HSK 2

    今天下雨，我们就不出去了。

    Jīntiān xiàyǔ, wǒmen jiù bù chūqù le.

    It's raining today, so we just won't go out.

  2. HSK 2

    你喜欢喝奶茶，我们就买奶茶吧。

    Nǐ xǐhuan hē nǎichá, wǒmen jiù mǎi nǎichá ba.

    You like milk tea, so we'll buy milk tea.

  3. HSK 1

    妈妈一到家就去做饭了。

    Māma yī dào jiā jiù qù zuòfàn le.

    As soon as Mom got home, she went to cook.

  4. HSK 1

    我就一个哥哥。

    Wǒ jiù yī gè gēge.

    I only have one older brother.

How is 就 used in a conversation?

  1. Speaker A:

    今天下雨了。

    Jīntiān xiàyǔ le.

    It's raining today.

  2. Speaker B:

    那我们就不出去了。

    Nà wǒmen jiù bù chūqù le.

    Then we just won't go out.

  3. Speaker A:

    你什么时候回家？

    Nǐ shénme shíhou huí jiā?

    When are you going home?

  4. Speaker B:

    我一下课就回家。

    Wǒ yī xiàkè jiù huí jiā.

    I'll go home as soon as class ends.

  5. Speaker A:

    你家有几个孩子？

    Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ gè háizi?

    How many kids are in your family?

  6. Speaker B:

    我们就一个孩子。

    Wǒmen jiù yī gè háizi.

    We only have one child.

Can you use 就 correctly?

0 of 3 answered
  1. 1.Fill in the blank: 今天下雨，我们___不出去了。
  2. 2.Fill in the blank: 妈妈一到家___去做饭了。
  3. 3.Which sentence means "I only have one older brother"?

What should you learn next?

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English glosses on this page are adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG (snapshot 2026-10-23), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Glosses were edited for learners.