Basic/Simple Sentence PatternsHSK 4

Expressing "as one likes" with 就

The pattern 想 + Verb + 就 + Verb means 'if you want to do something, just do it.' It gives permission or expresses doing as you wish, and is common in casual speech.

Structure

想 + Verb + 就 + Verb

Examples

想吃就吃。
Xiǎng chī jiù chī.
If you want to eat, help yourself.
想走就走吧。
Xiǎng zǒu jiù zǒu ba.
Leave if you want to.
想买就买，不用问我。
Xiǎng mǎi jiù mǎi, bùyòng wèn wǒ.
If you want to buy it, go ahead. You don't need to ask me.
别害怕，想说就说。
Bié hàipà, xiǎng shuō jiù shuō.
Don't be afraid. If you want to say, say it.
想做就做，考虑那么多干吗？
Xiǎng zuò jiù zuò, kǎolǜ nàme duō gànmá?
If you want to do it, do it. Why do you need to think about it so much?

Words that use this

就jiù(after a suppositional clause) in that case; then; (after a clause of action) as soon as; immediately after; (same as 是) merely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly; only; as little as; as much as; as many as; to approach; to move towards; to undertake; to engage in; (often followed by 着) taking advantage of; (of food) to go with; with regard to; concerning; (pattern: 就 ... 也 ...) even if ... still ...; (pattern: 不 ... 就 ...) if not ... then must be ...