就

jiù

京 + 尤

HSK 2.0Level 2

HSK 3.0Level 2

Definitions

jiù (adverb) then; in that case

jiù (adverb) at once; right away; immediately

jiù (adverb) just; only (emphasis)

jiù (adverb) already; as early as

jiù (verb) to approach; to move towards

jiù (verb) to undertake; to engage in

jiù (particle) concerning; with regard to

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 京 represents the meaning and 尤 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "high place". The meaning of this character has shifted over time and now means "achieve".

Semantic: 尤 Phonetic: 京

About

The character 就 (jiù) is a phonosemantic compound: 京 (jīng) on the left, originally a capital city or high tower, provides the meaning of a high place, while 尤 (yóu) on the right indicates the pronunciation. Its earliest meaning was "high place", which developed into the action of approaching an elevated spot or a destination to complete a task. This gradually broadened to signify accomplishing, succeeding, or finishing something, and eventually "achieve". Today the original spatial sense is obsolete, and 就 functions primarily as a grammatical particle or adverb indicating immediacy, consequence, or emphasis, like "then", "just", or "right away".