Use 了 le…就 jiù… to say one thing happens right after another: “as soon as I get off work, I go to the gym.” The first action is done, and the second one follows straight away.
一 The Basic Pattern
(Subject) + Verb + 了 + (Object) + 就 + Verb Phrase
了 le comes right after the first verb to show it’s finished. 就 jiù introduces what happens next. It works for habits, the past and the future.
他吃了早餐就開始开始工作
He starts working right after breakfast.
我下了班就去健身房
I go to the gym right after work.
你養养了狗就要負起负起責任责任
Once you get a dog, you have to take responsibility for it. 🐶
了 ≠ past tenseThis 了 le just means “once that’s done.” It isn’t a past tense. That’s why it works for habits and future plans too, like 我明天下了班就去健身房 (“I’ll go to the gym after work”).
二 With a Negative
Either part can be negative. A negative second part often means something stopped after the first action.
我喝了咖啡就不想睡了
After I drank coffee, I wasn’t sleepy anymore.
我吃了藥药，就沒没發燒发烧了
After taking the medicine, my fever went away.
三 Asking Questions
To ask a question, use 是不是 shì bú shì before the verb, or add 嗎 ma吗 ma at the end.
你是不是下了課课就回家？
You go home right after class, right?
他去了美國美国就沒没消息消息了嗎吗？
Did we stop hearing from him after he went to the US?
我們我们是不是看了電影电影就去吃飯吃饭？
We’re going to eat right after the movie, right?
四 V了⋯就⋯ vs. 一⋯就⋯
了 le…就 jiù… and 一 yī…就 jiù… are very close in meaning.
V + 了 … 就 …
我下了班就回家
Focuses on the order: first this is finished, then that.
一 + V … 就 …
我一下班就回家
Feels quicker, almost automatic: the moment one happens, the other follows.
五 Common Mistakes
❌ 我下班了就去健身房
✅ 我下了班就去健身房
下班 xiàbān is a separable verb, so 了 le goes between 下 xià and 班 bān.
❌ 他吃了早餐開始开始就工作
✅ 他吃了早餐就開始开始工作
就 jiù goes right before the second verb phrase.
❌ 我吃早餐就去上學上学
✅ 我吃了早餐就去上學上学
Without 了 le, it’s not clear the first action is finished. Keep 了 le after the first verb.
六 Practice
Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like, or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck. Careful: some tiles are traps and are not needed!
Question 1 of 10
“I go to bed right after I shower.”
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我洗了澡就睡覺睡觉
洗澡 xǐzǎo is separable, so 了 le goes in the middle.
“She cried as soon as she saw the letter.”
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她看了信就哭了
First action + 了 le, then 就 jiù + what happened.
“After we finish dinner, let’s go see a movie.”
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我們我们吃了晚飯晚饭就去看電影电影吧
A plan for later, still with 了 le.
“After he went to Japan, he stopped keeping in touch with us.”
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他去了日本就沒没跟我們我们聯絡联络了
The second part is negative: something stopped after the first action.
“Do you start work right after you arrive at the office?”
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你是不是到了公司就開始开始工作？
是不是 shì bú shì goes before the first verb.
“As soon as I get paid, I’ll treat you to dinner.”
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我領领了薪水薪水就請请你吃飯吃饭
A promise for the future. 💰
“He fell asleep right after lying down.”
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他躺下了就睡著睡着了
Out like a light! 😴
“After drinking that tea, my stomach stopped hurting.”
