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一……就……

As soon as … then …

HSK 3 · 4 examples

Speed

一 A 就 B says that B follows immediately after A — there is no gap in between. It is the natural way to describe habits and quick reactions.

The first half often ends with 了: 他一回来，我们就吃饭。

Examples

。

As soon as I get home I wash my hands.

。

He saw me the moment he got off the bus.

。

I liked this song the moment I heard it.

。

The child stopped crying as soon as he saw his mother.

Watch out

  • For habits, translate it as whenever: 我一喝酒就脸红 = Whenever I drink, my face goes red.
  • If the two halves have different subjects, the second subject goes before 就.

Words in these examples

All 20 words used in the examples above — tap any word in an example to look it up in place. Words above this level are marked new .

  • 我wǒHSK 1our, us, i, me, my, we
  • 一yīHSK 1one; a, an; alone
  • 回家huí jiāHSK 1to return home
  • 就jiùHSK 1just, simply; to come, go to; to approach, near
  • 先xiānHSK 1first, former, previous
  • 洗xǐHSK 1wash, rinse; clean, purify
  • 手shǒuHSK 1hand
  • 他tāHSK 1other, another; he, she, it
  • 下车xià chēHSK 1to get off or out of (a bus, train, car etc)
  • 看见kàn jiànHSK 1to see; to catch sight of
  • 了leHSK 1to finish; particle of completed action
  • 这zhèHSK 1this, the, here
  • 首shǒuHSK 3head; first; leader, chief; a poem; Kangxi radical 185
  • 歌gēHSK 1song, lyrics; sing, chant; praise
  • 听tīngHSK 1hear; understand; obey, comply; one pound
  • 喜欢xǐ huanHSK 1to like; to be fond of
  • 孩子hái ziHSK 1child
  • 妈妈mā maHSK 1mama; mommy; mother
  • 不bùHSK 1no, not; un-; negative prefix
  • 哭kūHSK 2weep, cry, wail

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