要
yào
To want, need, to intend to do something
要就 (yào jiù) — if you do it, do it fully
(要 (yào)) + X + 就 (jiù) + X + 个 (ge) + Result/Extent
HSK 7–93.0
Pattern diagram
要Action就Action个Result
pale — also possible
Rule structure
X就 (jiù)X个 (gè)Y repeats one action X: “if you do it, do it properly, to result Y”. For example, 要玩就玩个痛快 (Yào wán jiù wán ge tòngkuai) means “if you’re going to have fun, enjoy it to the full”. Y expresses the result or desired extent of the action; the pattern is colloquial.
Rule structure
X就 (jiù)X个 (gè)Y repeats one action X: “if you do it, do it properly, to result Y”. For example, 要玩就玩个痛快 (Yào wán jiù wán ge tòngkuai) means “if you’re going to have fun, enjoy it to the full”. Y expresses the result or desired extent of the action; the pattern is colloquial.
Examples
要玩就玩个痛快。
Yào wán jiù wán ge tòngkuai.
If you're going to have fun, have fun to the fullest.
Examples
要玩就玩个痛快。
Yào wán jiù wán ge tòngkuai.
If you're going to have fun, have fun to the fullest.
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Words from this rule
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “if you do it, do it fully” in Chinese with 要就?
Use the structure: (要 (yào)) + X + 就 (jiù) + X + 个 (ge) + Result/Extent. For example: 要玩就玩个痛快。 — “If you're going to have fun, have fun to the fullest”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
要玩就玩个痛快。 — “If you're going to have fun, have fun to the fullest”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.0 Levels 7–9.
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More HSK 3.0 Levels 7–9 grammar rules
动不动 就 — at the slightest thing, just
Subj. + 动不动 (dòngbudòng) 就 (jiù) + Verb
仅次于 — second only to
Subj. + 仅次于 (jǐn cì yú) + X
个 — casual small action
Verb + 个 (ge) + Noun
除外 — except for, excluding
Noun + 除外 (chúwài)
不亚于 — no worse than
Subject + 不亚于 (bú yà yú) + Noun
可不 — enthusiastic agreement
可不 (kě bu) / 可不是嘛 (kě bú shì ma) — a standalone confirming reply
说到哪儿去了 — polite reply to praise
说到哪儿去了 (shuō dào nǎr qù le) — a standalone polite reply
非 — neither A nor B
非 (fēi) + Noun/Adj. A + 非 (fēi) + Noun/Adj. B