就 jiù — then, right after that; straight away

Meanings

1. 1

   then, right after that; straight away

   Links a second event tightly to the first: 我吃完饭就去 "I’ll go as soon as I’ve eaten". The speaker presents the gap between them as small.

   adverb
2. 2

   precisely, exactly (emphasising)

   adverb

Example sentences

• 我吃完饭就去。/我吃完飯就去。Wǒ (third tone, dipping) chī (first tone, high and level) wán (second tone, rising) fàn (fourth tone, falling) jiù (fourth tone, falling) qù. (fourth tone, falling)···

  I’ll go as soon as I’ve finished eating.

• 他就在门旁边。/他就在門旁邊。Tā (first tone, high and level) jiù (fourth tone, falling) zài (fourth tone, falling) mén (second tone, rising) pángbiān. (second tone, rising)···

  He’s right there by the door.

Common mistakes

• Not quite就我去。

  Correct我就去。

  就 is an adverb, so it belongs after the subject and immediately before the verb. Fronting it the way English fronts "then" breaks the sentence.

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