Earliness or promptness with 就 (jiù) An English guide to Earliness or promptness with 就 (jiù), with structures, examples, and practical usage notes.
1 min read · 137 words · Published Sep 22, 2026
Overview
This English reference introduces “Earliness or promptness with 就 (jiù)” and focuses on the information most useful when reading Chinese.
Structure
subject + time + 就 + verb + 了
subject ( + time ) + 就 + verb
Examples
Happened early or quickly (in the past)
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飞 fēi 机 jī 十 shí 二 èr 点 diǎn 起 qǐ 飞 fēi ， 我 wǒ 们 men 八 bā 点 diǎn 就 jiù 到 dào 机 jī 场 chǎng 了 le 。
Our flight was at 12 o’clock, and we got to the airport at 8 o’clock.
他 tā 四 sì 十 shí 岁 suì 就 jiù 当 dāng 选 xuǎn 了 le 总 zǒng 统 tǒng 。
He was elected president when he was only 40 years old.
他 tā 十 shí 分 fēn 钟 zhōng 就 jiù 做 zuò 完 wán 了 le 。
He finished in just 10 minutes.
小 xiǎo 明 míng 花 huā 了 le 三 sān 个 ge 月 yuè 就 jiù 学 xué 会 huì 了 le 游 yóu 泳 yǒng 。
Little Ming learned how to swim in just three months.
Happening soon (in the future)
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请 qǐng 等 děng 一 yí 下 xià ， 我 wǒ 就 jiù 来 lái 。
Please wait a moment, I’ll be there right away.
他 tā 五 wǔ 分 fēn 钟 zhōng 以 yǐ 后 hòu 就 jiù 到 dào 。
He’ll be here in five minutes.
我 wǒ 现 xiàn 在 zài 就 jiù 去 qù 准 zhǔn 备 bèi ， 马 mǎ 上 shàng 就 jiù 好 hǎo 。
I’m going to prepare now. I’ll be ready soon.
天 tiān 马 mǎ 上 shàng 就 jiù 要 yào 黑 hēi 了 le 。
It’s going to get dark soon.
Usage notes
Using 就 and 才 to talk about past events
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小 明 ： 我 今 天 1 0 点 就 起 床 了 。
Little Ming: I got up at 10 o’clock today.
爷 爷 ： 什 么 ？ 你 今 天 1 0 点 才 起 床 ！
Grandpa: What? You didn’t get up until 10 o’clock today!
小 xiǎo 明 míng 花 huā 了 le 三 sān 个 ge 月 yuè 就 jiù 学 xué 会 huì 游 yóu 泳 yǒng 。
Little Ming learned how to swim in just three months.
小 xiǎo 明 míng 花 huā 了 le 三 sān 年 nián 才 cái 学 xué 会 huì 游 yóu 泳 yǒng 。
It took Little Ming three years to learn how to swim.
Related grammar points
