就
Meanings
- (after a suppositional clause) in that case; then
- (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after
- (same as 就是 jiù shì) 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 zhe) taking advantage of
- (of food) to go with
- with regard to; concerning
- (bound form) to reach; to attain (as in 一蹴而就 yī cù ér jiù)
- (pattern: 就 jiù ... 也 yě ...) even if ... still ...
- (pattern: 不 bù ... 就 jiù ...) if not ... then must be ...
Characters in this entry
- 就
- jiù · just, simply; to come, go to; to approach, near
Explore the spelling
Mandarin tones
4 · jiu4
Compare attested words with these syllables ↗Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.
Connected dictionary
Sentences in context
Exact source-spelling matches. Open the reader for dictionary lookups, construction notes and related examples. Occurrence does not establish a particular dictionary sense.
Read this spelling in Classical texts
Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.
Compare dictionary sources Rime · Wiktionary
Rime Cantonese 粵拼
zau6
Cantonese word readings for 就. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.
CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack
Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section
Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.
character · Etymology 1
- to approach; to move towards
- to reach; to arrive at
- to undertake; to engage in
- to succeed; to complete
- to comply; to follow; to accept
- to suffer; to be subjected to
- (of food) to go with
- with regard to; concerning
- even if; even though
- at once; right away
- (Cantonese) almost; soon
- (used for emphasis) exactly; precisely; just
- only; merely; just
- then
- (used to express earliness) as early as; as soon as
- as many as; as much as
- Used between two identical words to express indifference or resignation.
- (alt-of, alternative) alternative form of 鷲 /鹫 (jiù)
character · Etymology 2
- (Hokkien) alternative form of 著 (“to need to; exactly; already; even; as soon as”)
Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack