就 (expressing 'then')

• Pinyin: jiù
• Formation: Condition / Action + 就 + Result / Next Action
• Hanzi breakdown: 就 = 京 (capital) + 尤 (especially)

Meaning

The adverb 就 (jiù) is used to express 'then' in the sense of a natural, immediate, or expected consequence. It connects a condition or preceding action with its result, implying promptness or inevitability.

The word 就 is one of the most multifunctional adverbs in Mandarin, but its 'then' usage is among the most common. It often appears in conditional sentences, sequential actions, or cause-and-effect statements. Unlike 然后 (which is more like 'after that' in a temporal sequence), 就 suggests a tighter, more immediate connection between two events. A key contrast is with 才: while 就 implies something happened sooner or more easily than expected, 才 implies it happened later or with more difficulty. For example, 他八点就到了 (he arrived as early as eight) versus 他八点才到 (he didn't arrive until eight). Mastering 就 versus 才 is crucial for natural-sounding Chinese.

Examples

1. 你准备好了，我们就出发。 Once you're ready, we'll head out.
2. 吃完饭我就去写作业。 I'll go do my homework right after eating.
3. 下课以后我就回家了。 I went home right after class.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: sequential

Do Say

• 雨停了我们就走。
• 你说一声，我就来帮你。
• 看完这本书我就借给你。
• 到了机场就给我打电话。

Don't Say

• 我吃完饭就了回家。(就 is an adverb placed before the verb — 了 cannot be inserted between 就 and the verb) → 我吃完饭就回家了。
• 如果下雨，就我不去了。(就 must come after the subject, not before it — say 我就不去了) → 如果下雨，我就不去了。
• 他就慢慢地才走过来。(就 and 才 express opposite expectations and cannot be used together in this way) → 他慢慢地才走过来。

Origin & History

The character 就 originally meant 'to approach' or 'to go toward' in classical Chinese. Its modern adverbial uses, including 'then' and 'as early as,' developed through centuries of grammaticalization.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal