Then 就 jiù Grammar

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, 就 jiù can be used to express “then” in a sentence, but it may not always be translated as such in English. We can use 就 jiù to indicate what action we should take after a particular situation is set in the first part of the sentence.

Structure

Set up situation + 就 + Verb Phrase

我wǒ學xué好hǎo中文zhōngwén後hòu， 就jiù可以kěyǐ到dào中國Zhōngguó旅遊lǚyóu了le我wǒ学xué好hǎo中文zhōngwén后hòu， 就jiù可以kěyǐ到dào中国Zhōngguó旅游lǚyóu了le
After I learn Chinese, then I can travel to China.

吃chī完wán晚餐wǎncān我wǒ就jiù要yào去qù睡shuì了le吃chī完wán晚餐wǎncān我wǒ就jiù要yào去qù睡shuì了le
After dinner I’m going to bed.

你nǐ身體shēntǐ不bú太tài舒服shūfú， 我們wǒmen今天jīntiān就jiù在zài家jiā吃飯chīfàn吧ba你nǐ身体shēntǐ不bú太tài舒服shūfu， 我们wǒmen今天jīntiān就jiù在zài家jiā吃饭chīfàn吧ba
You are not feeling well, let’s have dinner at home today.

你nǐ養yǎng了le狗gǒu就jiù要yào負fù起qǐ責任zérèn你nǐ养yǎng了le狗gǒu就jiù要yào负fù起qǐ责任zérèn
You have to take responsibility for raising a dog.

累lèi了le就jiù去qù休息xiūxí， 不要búyào一直yìzhí工作gōngzuò累lèi了le就jiù去qù休息xiūxi， 不要búyào一直yìzhí工作gōngzuò
Take a break when you’re tired, don’t work all the time.

買mǎi完wán機票jīpiào後hòu， 我wǒ這個月zhègeyuè就jiù要yào吃土chītǔ了le买mǎi完wán机票jīpiào后hòu， 我wǒ这个月zhègeyuè就jiù要yào吃土chītǔ了le
After buying the plane ticket, I will be living on a tight budget this month.

FYI
“吃土 chītǔ” (eating soil/dirt) is a funny and lighthearted way to describe a situation where someone is living on a very tight budget. It’s like saying, “I’m so broke, I might have to eat dirt to survive!” While the phrase may sound a bit extreme, it’s often used among friends and peers who are going through similar financial struggles.

So if you find yourself cutting back on expenses and living frugally this month after buying a plane ticket or for any other reason, just remember that you’re not alone. We’ve all been there, and sometimes a little humor and camaraderie can make it easier to get through the tough times.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ After I finish watching this movie, I’ll go wash the dishes.

等děng我wǒ看kàn完wán這zhè部bù電影diànyǐng， 我wǒ就jiù去qù洗碗xǐwǎn等děng我wǒ看kàn完wán这zhè部bù电影diànyǐng， 我wǒ就jiù去qù洗碗xǐwǎn

✔️ I’m busy now, I’ll call you when I get home.

我wǒ現在xiànzài很hěn忙máng， 我wǒ回家huíjiā就jiù給gěi你nǐ打電話dǎdiànhuà我wǒ现在xiànzài很hěn忙máng， 我wǒ回家huíjiā就jiù给gěi你nǐ打电话dǎdiànhuà

✔️ If you need help, just contact me.

如果rúguǒ你nǐ需要xūyào幫忙bāngmáng， 就jiù聯絡liánluò我wǒ如果rúguǒ你nǐ需要xūyào帮忙bāngmáng， 就jiù联络liánluò我wǒ

Other 就 jiù related posts:

• 就 jiù Chinese Grammar