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How to say “only” in Chinese with 就 (jiù)

就 (jiù) + Measure Word / Noun (only, just)

Limiting scope with "就 (jiù)"

HSK 5Prepositions

Rule structure

就 (jiù) can be placed before a number or measure word to emphasize that the quantity is small or the scope is limited. It conveys "only, just".

Examples

教室里就三个人。

Jiàoshì lǐ jiù sān gè rén.

There are only three people in the classroom.

Practice

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Frequently asked questions

How do you express “Limiting scope with "就 (jiù)"” in Chinese?

Use the structure: 就 (jiù) + Measure Word / Noun (only, just). For example: 教室里就三个人。 — “There are only three people in the classroom.”.

What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?

教室里就三个人。 — “There are only three people in the classroom.”.

Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?

This grammar rule is part of HSK 5.

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