<p>I am a Taiwanese but not a trained Chinese teacher, my explanation might not be academically correct :p.</p>

<p>First let me explain what changes with <code>就</code>. Adding <code>就</code> emphasises the fact by making the tone sounds stronger, try read it out and feel the difference. It's a word you can say it with more strength, heavily, louder, tones up. Without it sometimes there is no place in the sentence to put the power. I will know you want me to be noticed that you are leaving early tomorrow.</p>

<p>Second, the effect of <code>就</code> varies depending on the reason you want to emphasise it and depending on the following or the followed statements. Maybe you don't like this place so you want to take the very first train to leave, or maybe you want me to send the kids to school because you won't be available tomorrow morning, or you are going to bed early tonight because you are leaving early tomorrow, or when you say it with no explicit reason it makes me feel you are expecting me to ask why. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-08-01T13:53:10.623Z
2012-08-01T13:53:10.623Z
Wen
<p>The Chinese Grammar Wiki has a page on <a href="http://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_earliness_with_%22jiu%22" rel="nofollow noreferrer">expressing earliness with 就</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>In English this might be expressed with &quot;as early as&quot;, but usually it's not specifically marked.</p>
<ul>
<li>我们 早上 九点 上课，可是 他 八点 就 来了。</li>
<li>她 十八 岁 就 大学 毕业 了。</li>
<li>我们 上次 出去 玩，他 九点 就 回去 了。</li>
<li>我 五 点 钟 就 到 了 饭馆，你 让 我 等 这么 久，罚 你 请客！</li>
</ul>
<p>From the example sentences it is clear that 了 naturally occurs with a verb used after 就. This is because verbs following 就 generally have the feeling of being completed.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>If you're interested in the many other uses of 就, they have <a href="http://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%B0%B1" rel="nofollow noreferrer">several related pages</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-08-02T05:59:41.363Z
I don't completely agree. In the examples you give everything on the right side has already happened and hence the 了 should definitely be added. In the example Cocowalla gave the right hand side is in the future and hence hasn't  finished yet and therefor the 了 doesn't need to be added (as Pimsleur also does). I believe for example NPCR reader made this distinction (but I can't verify this now).
BertR
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-08-01T19:25:25.783Z
2012-08-01T19:25:25.783Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Don Kirkby
<p>我是一位来自中国的网友，很高兴能解答你的困惑。在我的解答中，我将会同时使用中文和英文语言进行解释，其中英文的解释是我使用翻译工具的，可能会有不准确的情况。因此我将列举其它同义的中文词汇进行解释。下面是我给出的解答。
I am a netizen from China, happy to answer your questions. In my answer, I will use both Chinese and English to explain, and the English explanation is the one I use the translation tool, which may be inaccurate. Therefore, I will enumerate other synonymous Chinese words to explain. Here is my answer.</p>
<p>“就”在中文中有以下含义：
”就“ has the following meanings in Chinese</p>
<ol>
<li>副词，表示仅仅、只有。例如：<em>我今天早餐就吃了一个鸡蛋，其它什么也没吃</em>。就像英文中的“just”&quot;only&quot;.
Means 'Only'.For example<em>我今天早餐就吃了一个鸡蛋，其它什么也没吃。</em> it's like &quot;just&quot; or &quot;only&quot; in English.</li>
</ol>
<p>2.副词，表示刚刚、很快、马上。例如： <em>我就要来了。</em> 就像英文中的“Just”“quickly”
Means 'Just'.For example *我就要来了。*It's like &quot;Just&quot; or &quot;Quickly&quot; in Eng.</p>
<p>3.动词，表示从事某个职业。例如： <em>毕业后的就业成了许多学生的难题。</em> 就像英文中的“work at”.
Means 'work at some job'. For example,<em>毕业后的就业成了许多学生的难题。</em>。It's like &quot;work at&quot; in Eng.</p>
<p>以上三个是中文中“就”单字表示的常用释义。综上所述，这个字含义比较抽象，更多情况下与英文中的“Just”是差不多的，所以在作为副词使用的时候，我们可以当做“Just”来理解。
The above three are the common definitions of the Chinese word &quot;就&quot;. To sum up, the meaning of this word is more abstract, and in more cases it is similar to the English &quot;Just&quot;, so when used as an adverb, we can understand it as &quot;Just&quot;.</p>
<p>想要了解“就”字的其它释义以及相关词组的含义，可以参考“百度汉语”https://hanyu.baidu.com/ 祝愿你们能有所成就。
For other definitions of &quot;就&quot; and related phrases, please refer to <a href="https://hanyu.baidu.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://hanyu.baidu.com/</a>. I hope you can achieve something.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-04T01:34:18.493Z
2024-08-04T01:34:18.493Z
AllayFromChina
<p>In this context, <code>就</code> has the English meaning of <code>will</code> as in:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>I will be leaving very early tomorrow morning.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>According to <a href="http://baike.baidu.com/view/107664.htm" rel="nofollow">Baidu</a>, <code>就</code> has many usages. Although Baidu has stated that <code>just</code> is the English word, I believe that <code>will</code> is more appropriate as in the following commonly used phrases:</p>

<p><code>就会 - will be</code></p>

<p><code>就能 - will be able to</code></p>

<p><code>就可 - will be able to</code></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-08-01T11:54:28.523Z
So are you saying it's used to say that something will be the case in the future? Like present would be `可` "am able to (now)" and future would be `就可` "will be able to"?
Cocowalla
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-08-01T14:19:32.010Z
@Cocowalla, I think the other two answerers have provided a more correct explanation on the use of the word. In this case, to add an emphasis to something that will happen, shall happen (future) or is going to happen (very soon).
杨以轩
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-18T16:10:37.337Z
Future and completion are distinct. We can talk about completed things in the future: "I will leave after I finish dinner". In grammar some languages have grammatical "tense" and others have grammatical "aspect". A few languages have both but because it's not common many people confuse tense and aspect. Future relates to tense and completion relates to aspect. All languages can express both but typically only have grammatical constructions for one and the other must be dealt with in various less systematic ways.
hippietrail
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-08-01T11:21:08.240Z
2012-08-01T11:21:08.240Z
杨以轩
<p>Since 就 is a construct that has many meanings, I'm only going to concentrate on your sentence.</p>

<p>In your sentence it will give emphasis that it is really early. You can also write: 
我明天早上很早走 but this lacks the emphasis 我明天早上很早就走 has. And the latter construction will be used much more than the former.</p>

<p>Some similar constructions:</p>

<ul>
<li>马上就来: to come right down</li>
<li>一会儿就好: I'm ready in a moment</li>
</ul>

<p>It is used for actions (after the 就). You have the structure A就B and B will be done after A is done.</p>

<p>就 can be used to say that one thing comes immediately or very soon after the other. For example 我明天吃了早饭就走: Tomorrow, I will immediately leave after having eaten breakfast. </p>

<p>In this type of sentence you normally have a verb before the 就 and when after the 就. Although there is no verb in 我明天早上很早就走, it is actually the same kind of structure and you can understand it the same. Immediately after "早上很早" you'll leave.</p>

<p>The opposite of this 就 is 才 (another word with many meanings). There you emphasize that  something happened really or rather late. For example 我十一点才起床了： I only got out of bed at 11.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-08-01T11:57:58.457Z
When 就 is used to give emphasis, is it only used with regard to time, or can it be used in other ways?
Cocowalla
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-08-01T13:44:38.713Z
The ...了...就... structure I mentioned above is specific for time. There is also a 一...就... structure which was the same meaning (so also specific for time). 就 however has many meanings and can also mean exactly, precisely. For example 就是他. It can also mean only: 家里就是他一个人: In his family there was only him
BertR
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-08-01T11:27:28.793Z
2012-08-01T13:49:13.467Z
2012-08-01T13:49:13.467Z
BertR
<p>Pimsleur's Mandarin course teaches "I'm leaving very early tomorrow morning" as:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>我明天早上很早就走 (wŏ míngtiān zăoshàng hĕn zăo jiù zŏu)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>It says that <code>就 (jiù)</code> doesn't have a corresponding meaning in English, but, frustratingly, that's all it says about it.</p>

<p>What is the role of <code>就</code> in this sentence, and how is it needed and used in a more general sense in Mandarin?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-13T06:35:22.523Z
I hated it too but now I understand. 就 is simply one of many chinese "and"s with a hint of "already". 
In this particular sentence it means "很早就走" = "very early _and already_ (i'm) gone"
coobit
<grammar>
How is 就 (jiù) used?
# How is 就 (jiù) used?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-08-01)

Pimsleur's Mandarin course teaches "I'm leaving very early tomorrow morning" as:

> 我明天早上很早就走 (wŏ míngtiān zăoshàng hĕn zăo jiù zŏu)

It says that `就 (jiù)` doesn't have a corresponding meaning in English, but, frustratingly, that's all it says about it.

What is the role of `就` in this sentence, and how is it needed and used in a more general sense in Mandarin?

**Tags:** grammar

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I hated it too but now I understand. 就 is simply one of many chinese "and"s with a hint of "already".  In this particular sentence it means "很早就走" = "very early _and already_ (i'm) gone"  

---

## 5 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2012-08-01. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

Since 就 is a construct that has many meanings, I'm only going to concentrate on your sentence.

In your sentence it will give emphasis that it is really early. You can also write:
我明天早上很早走 but this lacks the emphasis 我明天早上很早就走 has. And the latter construction will be used much more than the former.

Some similar constructions:

* 马上就来: to come right down
* 一会儿就好: I'm ready in a moment

It is used for actions (after the 就). You have the structure A就B and B will be done after A is done.

就 can be used to say that one thing comes immediately or very soon after the other. For example 我明天吃了早饭就走: Tomorrow, I will immediately leave after having eaten breakfast.

In this type of sentence you normally have a verb before the 就 and when after the 就. Although there is no verb in 我明天早上很早就走, it is actually the same kind of structure and you can understand it the same. Immediately after "早上很早" you'll leave.

The opposite of this 就 is 才 (another word with many meanings). There you emphasize that something happened really or rather late. For example 我十一点才起床了： I only got out of bed at 11.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: When 就 is used to give emphasis, is it only used with regard to time, or can it be used in other ways?  
> **username_4**: The ...了...就... structure I mentioned above is specific for time. There is also a 一...就... structure which was the same meaning (so also specific for time). 就 however has many meanings and can also mean exactly, precisely. For example 就是他. It can also mean only: 家里就是他一个人: In his family there was only him  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2012-08-01. Score: 3

I am a Taiwanese but not a trained Chinese teacher, my explanation might not be academically correct :p.

First let me explain what changes with `就`. Adding `就` emphasises the fact by making the tone sounds stronger, try read it out and feel the difference. It's a word you can say it with more strength, heavily, louder, tones up. Without it sometimes there is no place in the sentence to put the power. I will know you want me to be noticed that you are leaving early tomorrow.

Second, the effect of `就` varies depending on the reason you want to emphasise it and depending on the following or the followed statements. Maybe you don't like this place so you want to take the very first train to leave, or maybe you want me to send the kids to school because you won't be available tomorrow morning, or you are going to bed early tonight because you are leaving early tomorrow, or when you say it with no explicit reason it makes me feel you are expecting me to ask why.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2012-08-01. Score: 1

The Chinese Grammar Wiki has a page on [expressing earliness with 就](http://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_earliness_with_%22jiu%22).

> In English this might be expressed with "as early as", but usually it's not specifically marked.
>
> * 我们 早上 九点 上课，可是 他 八点 就 来了。
> * 她 十八 岁 就 大学 毕业 了。
> * 我们 上次 出去 玩，他 九点 就 回去 了。
> * 我 五 点 钟 就 到 了 饭馆，你 让 我 等 这么 久，罚 你 请客！
>
> From the example sentences it is clear that 了 naturally occurs with a verb used after 就. This is because verbs following 就 generally have the feeling of being completed.

If you're interested in the many other uses of 就, they have [several related pages](http://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%B0%B1).

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: I don't completely agree. In the examples you give everything on the right side has already happened and hence the 了 should definitely be added. In the example username_0 gave the right hand side is in the future and hence hasn't  finished yet and therefor the 了 doesn't need to be added (as Pimsleur also does). I believe for example NPCR reader made this distinction (but I can't verify this now).  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2024-08-04. Score: 1

我是一位来自中国的网友，很高兴能解答你的困惑。在我的解答中，我将会同时使用中文和英文语言进行解释，其中英文的解释是我使用翻译工具的，可能会有不准确的情况。因此我将列举其它同义的中文词汇进行解释。下面是我给出的解答。
I am a netizen from China, happy to answer your questions. In my answer, I will use both Chinese and English to explain, and the English explanation is the one I use the translation tool, which may be inaccurate. Therefore, I will enumerate other synonymous Chinese words to explain. Here is my answer.

“就”在中文中有以下含义：
”就“ has the following meanings in Chinese

1. 副词，表示仅仅、只有。例如：*我今天早餐就吃了一个鸡蛋，其它什么也没吃*。就像英文中的“just”"only".
   Means 'Only'.For example*我今天早餐就吃了一个鸡蛋，其它什么也没吃。* it's like "just" or "only" in English.

2.副词，表示刚刚、很快、马上。例如： *我就要来了。* 就像英文中的“Just”“quickly”
Means 'Just'.For example \*我就要来了。\*It's like "Just" or "Quickly" in Eng.

3.动词，表示从事某个职业。例如： *毕业后的就业成了许多学生的难题。* 就像英文中的“work at”.
Means 'work at some job'. For example,*毕业后的就业成了许多学生的难题。*。It's like "work at" in Eng.

以上三个是中文中“就”单字表示的常用释义。综上所述，这个字含义比较抽象，更多情况下与英文中的“Just”是差不多的，所以在作为副词使用的时候，我们可以当做“Just”来理解。
The above three are the common definitions of the Chinese word "就". To sum up, the meaning of this word is more abstract, and in more cases it is similar to the English "Just", so when used as an adverb, we can understand it as "Just".

想要了解“就”字的其它释义以及相关词组的含义，可以参考“百度汉语”https://hanyu.baidu.com/ 祝愿你们能有所成就。
For other definitions of "就" and related phrases, please refer to <https://hanyu.baidu.com/>. I hope you can achieve something.


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2012-08-01. Score: 0

In this context, `就` has the English meaning of `will` as in:

> I will be leaving very early tomorrow morning.

According to [Baidu](http://baike.baidu.com/view/107664.htm), `就` has many usages. Although Baidu has stated that `just` is the English word, I believe that `will` is more appropriate as in the following commonly used phrases:

`就会 - will be`

`就能 - will be able to`

`就可 - will be able to`

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: So are you saying it's used to say that something will be the case in the future? Like present would be `可` "am able to (now)" and future would be `就可` "will be able to"?  
> **username_6**: @username_0, I think the other two answerers have provided a more correct explanation on the use of the word. In this case, to add an emphasis to something that will happen, shall happen (future) or is going to happen (very soon).  
> **username_7**: Future and completion are distinct. We can talk about completed things in the future: "I will leave after I finish dinner". In grammar some languages have grammatical "tense" and others have grammatical "aspect". A few languages have both but because it's not common many people confuse tense and aspect. Future relates to tense and completion relates to aspect. All languages can express both but typically only have grammatical constructions for one and the other must be dealt with in various less systematic ways.  

---

