就 jiù – Giving an exception

Grammar Point:
In this usage, 就 jiù emphasizes the exception or the unusualness of the situation. It is often used to express surprise or to draw attention to the exception.

Structure

The exception + 就

A: 為什麼wèishénme外國人wàiguórén都dōu不bù敢gǎn吃chī臭豆腐chòudòufǔ？ A: 为什么wèishénme外国人wàiguórén都dōu不bù敢gǎn吃chī臭豆腐chòudòufu？
Why do foreigners dare not eat stinky tofu?

B: 我wǒ就jiù敢gǎn吃chī啊aB: 我wǒ就jiù敢gǎn吃chī啊a
As for me, I dare to eat it.

A: 台灣人Táiwānrén都dōu會huì說shuō台語táiyǔ嗎ma？ A: 台湾人Táiwānrén都dōu会huì说shuō台语táiyǔ吗ma？
Do all Taiwanese speak Taiwanese?

B: 不一定bùyídìng， 我wǒ會huì說shuō， 可是kěshì我wǒ弟弟dìdi就jiù不會búhuì說shuōB: 不一定bùyídìng， 我wǒ会huì说shuō， 可是kěshì我wǒ弟弟dìdi就jiù不会búhuì说shuō
Not really. I can speak it, but my younger brother can’t.

FYI
Hey there! Did you know that there is a language spoken by most people in Taiwan but not Mandarin? The answer is “台語台语” (Tâi-gí) which is totally different from Mandarin Chinese. Pretty cool, huh? Lately, lots of people have been interested in keeping the Taiwanese language and culture alive, and there have been some super fun efforts to use it more in everyday life, like in communication (keeping secrets from Mandarin speakers), education, and even in media! Let’s keep the Tâi-gí spirit alive and kicking!

A: 聽說tīngshuō狗gǒu最多zuìduō只zhǐ能néng活huó15 年niánA: 听说tīngshuō狗gǒu最多zuìduō只zhǐ能néng活huó15 年nián
I heard that dogs can only live up to 15 years.

B: 不是búshì吧ba！ 我wǒ上shàng一yì隻zhī狗gǒu就jiù活huó到dào20 歲suìB: 不是búshì吧ba！ 我wǒ上shàng一yì只zhī狗gǒu就jiù活huó到dào20 岁suì
No way! My last dog lived until 20 years old.

A: 你nǐ每個měige週末zhōumò都dōu去qù游泳yóuyǒng嗎ma？ A: 你nǐ每个měige周末zhōumò都dōu去qù游泳yóuyǒng吗ma？
Do you go swimming every weekend?

B: 沒有méiyǒu， 昨天zuótiān太tài冷lěng就jiù沒méi去qùB: 没有méiyǒu， 昨天zuótiān太tài冷lěng就jiù没méi去qù
No, it was too cold yesterday so I didn’t go.

A: 中文zhōngwén字zì真的zhēnde都dōu太tài難nán寫xiě了le！ A: 中文zhōngwén字zì真的zhēnde都dōu太tài难nán写xiě了le！
Chinese characters are really too difficult to write!

B: 不會búhuì啊a！ 「 一yī」 就jiù很hěn好hǎo寫xiěB: 不会búhuì啊a！ “ 一yī” 就jiù很hěn好hǎo写xiě
That’s not true! “One” is easy to write.

Structure

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

A: 這zhè網站wǎngzhàn通常tōngcháng會huì給gěi三sān個ge練習題liànxítí讓ràng學生xuéshēng練習liànxíA: 这zhè网站wǎngzhàn通常tōngcháng会huì给gěi三sān个ge练习题liànxítí让ràng学生xuéshēng练习liànxí
This website usually provides three exercises for students to practice.

✔️ B: Not this one.

這個zhège就jiù沒有méiyǒu这个zhège就jiù没有méiyǒu

Other 就 jiù related posts:

• 就 jiù Chinese Grammar