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就
就
jiù
adv./conj. precisely, exactly, at once; already; only; as soon as, right/immediately after; then (used after 'if...' to introduce a natural development of the previous statement)
Discussion of 就
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就 and 只 can both mean “only”. Sometimes they are interchangeable. What are their differences?

1. When we direct the meaning of “only” to the object in a sentence, both 就 and 只 can be used. They are interchangeable. For example:
E.g. 1a 他只喝白水，不喝咖啡。 [phr] He only drinks plain boiled water and doesn't drink coffee. = 他就喝白水，不喝咖啡。
E.g. 1b 我就买两件。 [phr] I will only buy two (clothes). = 我只买两件。
白水 is the object of the verb 喝. And 两件 is the object of the verb 买. 就 and 只 are referring to the objects — 白水 and 两件.

2. When we direct the meaning of “only” to the subject in a sentence, we can only use 就 or 只有, and they must appear before the subject. 只 cannot be used.
E.g. 2a 就他认识那位老师，别人都不认识。 [phr] Only he knows that teacher. Nobody else knows (him). = 只有他认识……
E.g. 2b 周六就我们两个人去游泳。 [phr] On Saturday, only the two of us will go swimming. ＝周六只有我们……
lisaC
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In this post, we discuss the uses of the correlative adverb 就. 就 is often used in the second clause of a complex sentence to indicate that the second even or action takes place in close succession after the first one.
Example 1. 我吃了饭，就去你那里。 [phr] Right after I finish eating, I will go to you.
Example 2. 比赛结束了，大家就回家了。 [phr] Right after the match was over, eveybody went home.
The subjects of the two clauses can be same (Example 1) or different (Example 2). If they are different, 就 should appear between the subject and the predicate. Please note that 就 as an adverb can never appear before the subject.
lisaC
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The adverb 就 is often used before the predicate (usually a verb) to indicate emphasis. In this case, 就 should be stressed in pronunciation. Various implications are possible, including:
precisely, none other than
E.g. 1 试衣间就在那里。 [phr] The fitting room is right over there.
immediately, at once
E.g. 2 我马上就来。 [phr] I'll come right away.
only, just
E.g. 3 我想他顶多就十五岁。 [phr] I think he is fifteen at most.
indicating a resolution
E.g. 4 我就买这件。 [phr] I'll buy this one.

就 indicating emphasis doesn’t have any negative form itself, but it can be used before the negative adverbs as confirmation. In this case it means “resolutely not” or “simply not”. For example:
E.g. 他就不写作业，你能怎么办？ [phr] He simply won't do his homework. What can you do about it?
lisaC
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I’m learning this in Rosetta Stone and it’s being used as sort of to say “on” I believe. As in 就能骑你的自行车 (can ride on your bike). Google Translate also translates it to “on”. Maybe “on” should be added to the possible meanings?
CramerPDX
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