How do you use "just" in a sentence?

I have just finished reading the book. That is just what I needed. Could you wait just a minute?

just

Q: What does "just" mean?

Very recently; exactly; only; fair and reasonable 'Just' has multiple meanings: 'very recently' ('I have just arrived'), 'exactly' ('just right'), 'only' ('just a moment'), and 'barely' ('I just managed to catch the train'). As an adjective, it means 'fair' ('a just decision'). The position of 'just' in a sentence can change its meaning significantly.

Vocabulary Word BritishAmerican ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: Very recently; exactly; only; fair and reasonable

刚刚，正好，只是

justo, apenas, solo, recién

ちょうど、〜したばかり、ただ〜だけ

방금, 바로, 단지 ~만

'Just' has multiple meanings: 'very recently' ('I have just arrived'), 'exactly' ('just right'), 'only' ('just a moment'), and 'barely' ('I just managed to catch the train'). As an adjective, it means 'fair' ('a just decision'). The position of 'just' in a sentence can change its meaning significantly.

「just」有多种含义：「刚刚」（「I have just arrived」）、「正好」（「just right」）、「只是」（「just a moment」）和「勉强」（「I just managed to catch the train」）。作为形容词，它意为「公正的」（「a just decision」）。「just」在句子中的位置可以显著改变其含义。

«Just» tiene múltiples significados: «muy recientemente» («I have just arrived»), «exactamente» («just right»), «solo» («just a moment»), y «apenas» («I just managed to catch the train»). Como adjetivo, significa «justo» («a just decision»). La posición de «just» en una oración puede cambiar su significado significativamente.

「just」は複数の意味を持ちます：「たった今」（「I have just arrived」）、「まさに」（「just right」）、「ただ〜だけ」（「just a moment」）、そして「かろうじて」（「I just managed to catch the train」）。形容詞として、「公正な」を意味します（「a just decision」）。文中の「just」の位置によって意味が大きく変わることがあります。

'Just'는 여러 의미가 있습니다: '방금'('I have just arrived'), '정확히'('just right'), '단지'('just a moment'), '간신히'('I just managed to catch the train'). 형용사로는 '공정한'이라는 뜻입니다('a just decision'). 문장에서 'just'의 위치에 따라 의미가 크게 달라질 수 있습니다.

Examples

I have just finished reading the book.
我刚刚读完这本书。
Acabo de terminar de leer el libro.
ちょうど本を読み終えたところだ。
방금 책을 다 읽었다.
That is just what I needed.
那正是我需要的。
Eso es justo lo que necesitaba.
それはまさに私が必要としていたものだ。
그것은 바로 내가 필요로 했던 것이다.
Could you wait just a minute?
你能等一下吗？
¿Podrías esperar solo un momento?
ちょっとだけ待ってもらえますか？
잠깐만 기다려 주시겠어요?

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: general

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old French 'juste', from Latin 'iūstus' meaning 'righteous' or 'fair'. Originally meant 'rightful' or 'lawful'; its modern informal sense of 'only' or 'simply' emerged in colloquial English.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal