Emphasis with '就' — Cantonese Grammar

The particle (zau6jauhdzau6) is a versatile word used to add emphasis in various situations. Its meaning changes depending on the context, but it generally serves to highlight or specify a particular piece of information.

Highlighting "Exactly" or "Precisely"

One of the most common uses of (zau6jauhdzau6) is to pinpoint something specific, similar to saying "precisely," "exactly," or "the very one" in English. It singles out a person, place, time, or thing, often to contrast it with other possibilities. It is placed directly before the element being emphasized.

呢度就係我屋企。
ni1·dou6 zau6·hai6 ngo5 uk1·kei2.nī·douh jauh·haih ngóh ūk·kéi.ni1·dou6 dzau6·hai6 ngo5 uk7·kei2.
This is my home (exactly here).
佢就係我老師。
keoi5 zau6·hai6 ngo5 lou5·si1.kéuih jauh·haih ngóh lóuh·sī.koey5 dzau6·hai6 ngo5 lou5·si1.
He is my teacher (that very person).
我想要嘅就係呢本書。
ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 ge3 zau6·hai6 ni1 bun2 syu1.ngóh séung yiu ge jauh·haih nī bún syū.ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 ge3 dzau6·hai6 ni1 bun2 sy1.
The one I want is precisely this book.

Showing Immediacy or Consequence ("Then")

(zau6jauhdzau6) can connect two actions or events, showing that the second one happens immediately after, or as a direct consequence of, the first. In this role, it functions like "then" or "so."

A frequently used structure is (jat1yātjat7) ... (zau6jauhdzau6), which translates to "as soon as... then...".

你唔舒服就休息吓啦。
nei5 m4 syu1·fuk6 zau6 jau1·sik1 haa5 laa1.néih m̀h syū·fuhk jauh yāu·sīk háh lā.nei5 m4 sy1·fuk9 dzau6 jau1·sik7 haa5 laa1.
If you're not feeling well, then get some rest.
我食完飯就出門口。
ngo5 sik6·jyun4 faan6 zau6 ceot1·mun4·hau2.ngóh sihk·yùhn faahn jauh chēut·mùhn·háu.ngo5 sik9·jyn4 faan6 dzau6 tsoet7·mun4·hau2.
I'll go out right after I finish eating.
佢一放工就返屋企。
keoi5 jat1 fong3·gung1 zau6 faan1 uk1·kei2.kéuih yāt fong·gūng jauh fāan ūk·kéi.koey5 jat7 fong3·gung1 dzau6 faan1 uk7·kei2.
As soon as he gets off work, he goes home.

Emphasizing "Only" or "Just"

When placed before a verb phrase involving a quantity, (zau6jauhdzau6) emphasizes that the amount is small or the action is simple. It adds a sense of "only" or "just," often implying that the speaker finds the quantity or action to be minimal.

我就得十蚊。
ngo5 zau6 dak1 sap6 man1.ngóh jauh dāk sahp mān.ngo5 dzau6 dak7 sap9 man1.
I only have ten dollars.
今日就得兩個學生。
gam1·jat6 zau6 dak1 loeng5 go3 hok6·saang1.gām·yaht jauh dāk léuhng go hohk·sāang.gam1·jat9 dzau6 dak7 loeng5 go3 hok9·saang1.
There are only two students today.
我就係想飲杯水。
ngo5 zau6·hai6 soeng2 jam2·bui1·seoi2.ngóh jauh·haih séung yám·būi·séui.ngo5 dzau6·hai6 soeng2 jam2·bui1·soey2.
I just want to drink a glass of water.

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Cantonese course

18 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 16. A few of them, with the words “Emphasis with '就'” is about in bold:

佢都係瞓緊覺。佢就冇瞓。
keoi5 dou1 hai6 fan3 gan2 gaau3. keoi5 zau6 mou5 fan3.kéuih dōu haih fan gán gaau. kéuih jauh móuh fan.koey5 dou1 hai6 fan3 gan2 gaau3. koey5 dzau6 mou5 fan3.
He is also sleeping. She isn't.
Lesson 16
如果你個人可以慳錢啲就好喇。
jyu4·gwo2 nei5 go3·jan4 ho2·ji5 haan1 cin2 di1 zau6 hou2 laa3.yùh·gwó néih go·yàhn hó·yíh hāan chín dī jauh hóu la.jy4·gwo2 nei5 go3·jan4 ho2·ji5 haan1 tsin2 di1 dzau6 hou2 laa3.
I wish you were more frugal.
Lesson 328
一嚟到七月，條河就變得好暖。
jat1 lai4 dou2 cat1 jyut6, tiu4 ho4 zau6 bin3 dak1 hou2 nyun5.yāt làih dóu chāt yuht, tìuh hòh jauh bin dāk hóu nyúhn.jat7 lai4 dou2 tsat7 jyt9, tiu4 ho4 dzau6 bin3 dak7 hou2 nyn5.
In July, the river becomes very warm.
Lesson 409

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