Sooner Then Expected with 就 jiù

Grammar Point:
就 jiù has the function of indicating an occurrence that happened earlier or sooner than expected. It can also be used to express that something is going to happen in the very near future.

Structure

S + Time word + 就 jiù + V

Function 1 – It indicates that something is going to happen very soon, and it can be translated into ‘right away’ in English or sometimes left untranslated.

等děng我wǒ一下yíxià， 我wǒ立刻lìkè就jiù到dào等děng我wǒ一下yíxià， 我wǒ立刻lìkè就jiù到dào
Wait for me, I’ll be right there.

他tā明天míngtiān就jiù會huì來lái台灣Táiwān了le他tā明天míngtiān就jiù会huì来lái台湾Táiwān了le
He will come to Taiwan tomorrow.

給gěi我wǒ5 分鐘fēnzhōng就jiù好hǎo给gěi我wǒ5 分钟fēnzhōng就jiù好hǎo
Give me five minutes and I’ll be ready.

你nǐ現在xiànzài就jiù把bǎ電視diànshì關掉guāndiào， 然後ránhòu去qù寫xiě作業zuòyè你nǐ现在xiànzài就jiù把bǎ电视diànshì关掉guāndiào， 然后ránhòu去qù写xiě作业zuòyè
Turn off the TV now and go do your homework.

我們wǒmen馬上mǎshàng就jiù要yào開始kāishǐ會議huìyì了le， 請qǐng把bǎ手機shǒujī調tiáo靜音jìngyìn我们wǒmen马上mǎshàng就jiù要yào开始kāishǐ会议huìyì了le， 请qǐng把bǎ手机shǒujī调tiáo静音jìngyìn
We’re about to start the meeting. Please mute your cell phone.

• If you want to express that an action has “just” happened, you should use 才 cái

Function 2 – It indicates that something happens much earlier or faster than expected, and it is usually left untranslated in English.

他tā明天míngtiān就jiù會huì來lái台灣Táiwān了le他tā明天míngtiān就jiù会huì来lái台湾Táiwān了le
He will come to Taiwan tomorrow.
(I thought he will come to Taiwan next month.)

你nǐ下個月xiàgeyuè就jiù要yào回國huíguó嗎ma， 太tài快kuài了le！ 你nǐ下个月xiàgeyuè就jiù要yào回国huíguó吗ma， 太tài快kuài了le！
You’re going back home next month? It’s too soon!

他tā18 歲suì就jiù結婚jiéhūn了le他tā18 岁suì就jiù结婚jiéhūn了le
He got married when he was 18.
(People usually don’t get married at 18, so it is earlier than I expected.)

爺爺yéye坐zuò在zài椅子yǐzi上shàng5 分鐘fēnzhōng就jiù睡著shuìzháo了le爷爷yéye坐zuò在zài椅子yǐzi上shàng5 分钟fēnzhōng就jiù睡着shuìzháo了le
Grandfather sat in the chair for just 5 minutes and fell asleep.
(5 minutes is faster than I expected.)

你nǐ為什麼wèishénme現在xiànzài就jiù來lái我家wǒjiā， 我們wǒmen不是búshì約yuē晚上wǎnshàng見jiàn嗎ma？ 你nǐ为什么wèishénme现在xiànzài就jiù来lái我家wǒjiā， 我们wǒmen不是búshì约yuē晚上wǎnshang见jiàn吗ma？
Why are you coming to my house right now? I thought we were meeting tonight.

• If you want to express lateness, you should use 才 cái

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

She arrived at the company at 6:30 (much) earlier than usual.

她tā六liù點diǎn半bàn就jiù到dào公司gōngsī了le她tā六liù点diǎn半bàn就jiù到dào公司gōngsī了le

I’ll be home now.

我wǒ現在xiànzài就jiù回家huíjiā我wǒ现在xiànzài就jiù回家huíjiā

It took him only 5 minutes to finish the work.

他tā5 分鐘fēnzhōng就jiù做zuò完wán工作gōngzuò了le他tā5 分钟fēnzhōng就jiù做zuò完wán工作gōngzuò了le

Other 就 jiù related posts:

• 就 jiù Chinese Grammar