Adverb of scope “就”

In Chinese, “就” (jiù) before a verb that carries a quantity shows the speaker considers that quantity small, the degree low, or the time short.

In English it usually comes out as:

only just no more than

Basic Structure

就 + Verb + quantity

Meaning: only this much

Examples

北(Běi)京(jīng)常(cháng)常(cháng)下(xià)雪(xuě)，但(dàn)听(tīng)说(shuō)今(jīn)年(nián)就(jiù)下(xià)了(le)一(yí)次(cì)。

It often snows in Beijing, but I hear it has only snowed once this year.

Structure

今年 + 就 + 下了 + 一次 this year + only + fell + once 北京常常下雪 — it often snows in Beijing 但听说 — but I hear 今年 — this year 就下了一次 — it only snowed once

Here 就 shows that 一次 is very little.

他(Tā)昨(zuó)天(tiān)就(jiù)看(kàn)了(le)十(shí)分(fēn)钟(zhōng)书(shū)。

He only read for ten minutes yesterday.

Structure

昨天 + 就 + 看了 + 十分钟书 yesterday + only + read + ten minutes 他 — he 昨天 — yesterday 就 — only / just 看了十分钟书 — read for ten minutes

Here 就 shows that the reading time was short.

“就” marking an exception

When “就” stands before a noun or noun subject, it marks an exception.

That is, it shows that just one person, thing or case differs from the general picture.

In English it usually comes out as:

only … just … it's just that …

Basic Structure

就 + Noun / Noun Subject

Meaning: only this person or thing is the exception

我(Wǒ)每(měi)天(tiān)书(shū)包(bāo)里(lǐ)都(dōu)放(fàng)着(zhe)雨(yǔ)伞(sǎn)，就(jiù)今(jīn)天(tiān)没(méi)带(dài)。

I carry an umbrella in my bag every day — only today I didn't bring it.

Structure

就 + 今天 + 没带 only + today + didn't bring it 我每天书包里都放着雨伞 — I carry an umbrella in my bag every day 就今天 — only today 没带 — didn't bring it

Here today is the exception to the usual state of affairs.

你(Nǐ)们(men)点(diǎn)的(de)菜(cài)都(dōu)挺(tǐng)好(hǎo)吃(chī)的(de)，就(jiù)我(wǒ)点(diǎn)的(de)这(zhè)个(ge)菜(cài)不(bú)太(tài)好(hǎo)吃(chī)。

Everything you ordered is pretty tasty — only the dish I ordered isn't very good.

Structure

就 + 我点的这个菜 + 不太好吃 only + this dish I ordered + isn't very tasty 你们点的菜都挺好吃的 — everything you ordered is pretty tasty 就我点的这个菜 — only this dish I ordered 不太好吃 — isn't very tasty

Here the dish I ordered is the exception among the rest.

Quick Summary

1. Marking a small quantity

就 + Verb + quantity

Meaning: only / just / no more than

Examples:

就(jiù)下(xià)了(le)一(yí)次(cì)

it only snowed once

就(jiù)看(kàn)了(le)十(shí)分(fēn)钟(zhōng)书(shū)

only read for ten minutes

2. Marking an exception

就 + Noun / Noun Subject

Meaning: only this person or thing is different

Examples:

就(jiù)今(jīn)天(tiān)没(méi)带(dài)

only today I didn't bring it

就(jiù)我(wǒ)点(diǎn)的(de)这(zhè)个(ge)菜(cài)不(bú)太(tài)好(hǎo)吃(chī)

only the dish I ordered isn't very tasty