Grammar Point:
In Chinese, 就 jiù can be used to express that something happens easier than expected. It is often used in a positive way to indicate a pleasant surprise or an unexpected result.
Structure
S + 就 jiù + Unexpected result
It is often combined with 没想到 méixiǎngdào or 想不到 xiǎngbùdào to express the speaker’s surprise or unexpectedness. The 就 jiù emphasizes the ease or simplicity of the result that follows.
大家都說就業很難,沒想到弟弟一畢業就找到工作了大家都说就业很难,没想到弟弟一毕业就找到工作了
People say that finding a job is difficult, but I didn’t expect my younger brother to get one right after graduation.
我從沒參加過馬拉松,所以以為很累,沒想到輕輕鬆鬆就跑完了我从没参加过马拉松,所以以为很累,没想到轻轻松松就跑完了
I have never participated in a marathon before, so I thought it would be very tiring. However, to my surprise, I finished the race with ease.
聽說做東坡肉很容易失敗,沒想到我第一次就成功了听说做东坡肉很容易失败,没想到我第一次就成功了
I heard that it’s easy to fail in making Dongpo Pork, but I succeeded on my first try.
新的蘋果手機很熱門很難買,可是我們去第一家店就買到了新的苹果手机很热门很难买,可是我们去第一家店就买到了
The new iPhone is very popular and hard to buy, but we managed to get it at the first store we went to.
有的人努力多年還是沒辦法懷孕,但是有的人卻一次就當媽媽了有的人努力多年还是没办法怀孕,但是有的人却一次就当妈妈了
Some people try for years but can’t get pregnant, while others become mothers on their first try.
FYI
In both Taiwan and China, it is a common custom for women to keep their pregnancy a secret during the first three months. This is because the first trimester is considered a critical period, and there is a higher risk of miscarriage. Therefore, many women choose to wait until the second trimester to share the news with family and friends.
If you notice that your friend is pregnant and she mentions that she can’t drink, it is best not to directly ask her if she is pregnant, even if it seems obvious.
還真是想不到你竟然一次就通過司法考試还真是想不到你竟然一次就通过司法考试
I really didn’t expect you to pass the judicial exam on your first attempt.
- If you want to express that something happens harder than expected, you should use 才 cái.
Practice
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✔️ This medicine works well. I just took one pill and my illness was cured.
這藥的效果很好,我吃一顆病就好了这药的效果很好,我吃一颗病就好了
✔️ He passed HSK6 just by self-study. But not you…;)
他靠自學就通過HSK6了他靠自学就通过HSK6了
✔️ I only give this plant a little water every day, but I didn’t expect it to grow so well.
我每天只給這盆花一點水,沒想到它就長得那麼好我每天只给这盆花一点水,没想到它就长得那么好
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