Meaning and usage
Editorial draft就 () often connects what happens with a condition, a time, or an expectation. It can introduce a consequence, emphasize promptness, or present a time as early. Those uses do not cover every sense: other contexts mean “only” or add emphasis. Look at what 就 relates to in this sentence.
The result follows readily or soon after a condition or action.
A time, amount, or effort is presented as small or early.
Connect a result or decision to a condition. The result need not be immediate.
Examples
我马上来。
I'll be right there.
走十分钟到了。
It's only a ten-minute walk away.
他八点来了。
He came as early as eight.
你想去，我们一起去。
If you want to go, we’ll go together.
Word comparisons
就 and 才
他八点就来了 ( ) treats eight as early; 他八点才来 ( ) can treat it as late. Whether eight is early or late depends on the situation. This timing contrast does not explain every use of 就 () or 才 ().
Word combinations
sleep as soon as one gets home
be right there
Sources & editorial notes
Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.
Source record: cd-c4dc41145b46e8cf. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.
Original source entry:
就 就 [jiu4] /(after a suppositional clause) in that case; then/(after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after/(same as 就是[jiu4 shi4]) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly/only; as little as/as much as; as many as/to approach; to move towards/to undertake; to engage in/(often followed by 著|着[zhe5]) taking advantage of/(of food) to go with/with regard to; concerning/(bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就[yi1 cu4 er2 jiu4])/(pattern: 就[jiu4] ... 也[ye3] ...) even if ... still .../(pattern: 不[bu4] ... 就[jiu4] ...) if not ... then must be .../Additional explanations and examples are editorial drafts. They have not received independent linguistic review. Audio uses an available Mandarin device voice, and its quality varies.
Editorial revision: 2026-10-28.2. Examples use tone marks, including common changes in 一 and 不.
These sources support specific usage points. They do not verify every sentence or endorse this entry.
- Keats School: 就 and 才
Cross-check of early/late timing and a prompt result. The conditional sense is also explicit in CC-CEDICT. These are selected uses, not an exhaustive account.
Source material and teaching drafts have separate provenance. Long-term commercial licensing remains under review.