就

Then/so (Second Clause)

Level 2Sounds Like zau6

The word 就 (zau6) is the standard way to say 'then' or 'so' when linking two ideas. It shows that the second action happens naturally, easily, or immediately after the first.

How It Works

1. Logical Consequence ('So/Then')
When one situation leads directly to another, use 就 (zau6) to bridge them. It implies a smooth or expected transition.
Example: 聽朝有堂，我就要備課 (ting1 ziu1 jau5 tong4, ngo5 zau6 jiu3 bei6 fo3) — 'I have class tomorrow morning, so [then] I must prep.'

2. Conditional Results ('If... then')
While learners often use 如果 (jyu4 gwo2) to say 'if', native speakers frequently drop the 'if' and just use 就 (zau6) in the second clause to imply the condition.

3. Immediate Sequence ('As soon as')
It is commonly paired with 一 (jat1) to mean 'as soon as [A] happens, [B] happens immediately.'

4. About to / Soon ('Imminence')
就 (zau6) is also used to indicate that something is about to happen very soon, often in phrases like 就嚟 (zau6 lei4) or 就快 (zau6 faai3).
Example: 我就嚟到 (ngo5 zau6 lei4 dou3) — 'I am almost there.'

5. Precisely / Exactly ('Emphasis')
It can emphasize that something is exactly the case, most commonly seen in 就係 (zau6 hai6) meaning 'is exactly' or 'precisely'.
Example: 呢個就係我想要嘅 (ni1 go3 zau6 hai6 ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 ge3) — 'This is exactly what I want.'

6. Contrast / Topic Marking
就 (zau6) can be used to highlight a contrast between two subjects or topics.
Example: 我就食叉燒飯，佢就食咖喱牛腩 (ngo5 zau6 sik6 caa1 siu1 faan6, keoi5 zau6 sik6 gaa3 lei1 ngau4 naam5) — 'I'll have the char siu rice, but she'll have the curry beef brisket.'

7. 'Just like that' / 'Simply'
The colloquial pairing 就咁 (zau6 gam2) means doing something simply or 'just like that' without extra effort or conditions.
Example: 就咁食 (zau6 gam2 sik6) — 'Just eat it as is.'

8. Word Order Rule
Unlike the English word 'then', which usually starts a sentence, when 就 (zau6) is used as an adverb with an explicit subject, it generally cannot precede the subject. It comes after the subject (or topic) and before the verb. (Note: The subject is often dropped in natural speech, and 就 can occasionally be used as a preposition like 'regarding').
✅ [Subject] + 就 + [Verb]
❌ 就 + [Subject] + [Verb]

9. 'Even if' (就算)
When combined with 算 (syun3), it forms 就算 (zau6 syun3), meaning 'even if'. It is usually paired with 都 (dou1) in the following clause.
Example: 就算落雨，我哋都要去 (zau6 syun3 lok6 jyu5, ngo5 dei6 dou1 jiu3 heoi3) — 'Even if it rains, we still have to go.'

10. To Accommodate / Yield (Verb)
Beyond its use as an adverb, 就 (zau6) can also function as a verb meaning to accommodate, yield to, or make do. You will often see it in words like 遷就 (cin1 zau6) or phrases like 就吓人 (zau6 haa5 jan4).
Example: 你可唔可以就吓我呀？ (nei5 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 zau6 haa5 ngo5 aa3?) — 'Can you accommodate me a little bit?'

Examples (4)

  1. 簽咭就平啲。

    If you pay by card, then it's cheaper.

    Word by Word: sign card then cheap a-bit

    Here, the condition (paying by card) leads naturally to the result (cheaper price) using 就 (zau6).

  2. 佢一放工就去健身。

    As soon as he finishes work, he goes to the gym.

    Word by Word: he once finish-work then go gym

    The pattern 一 (jat1) ... 就 (zau6) indicates that the second action happens immediately after the first.

  3. 你唔食我就食喇。

    If you aren't eating, then I'll eat.

    Word by Word: you not eat I then eat [particle]

    Notice how 就 (zau6) is placed after the subject 我 (ngo5) and before the verb 食 (sik6).

  4. 聽日落雨我就唔去。

    If it rains tomorrow, then I won't go.

    Word by Word: tomorrow fall-rain I then not go

    Even without the word 'if', the use of 就 (zau6) makes the conditional meaning clear.

Common Mistakes

  • Placing 'zau6' before the subject (English word order).

    就我就去。
    我就去。

    In English, we say 'Then I will go.' In Cantonese, you must say 'I then go' (ngo5 zau6 heoi3) because 就 (zau6) is an adverb.

  • Using 就 when you mean 'only after finishing'.

    Different Meaning做完就走得。
    做完先走得。

    做完就走得 is natural: it means 'you can leave as soon as it is done'. If you want to say the condition MUST be met first (only then), use 先 (sin1) instead: 做完先走得.

How It Connects

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就Level 2Then/so (Second Clause)

Learn This First

To use '就' correctly in this context, you need to understand how to structure basic sentences and how to link two ideas together. '就' acts as a logical bridge in the second clause, often implying 'then' or 'consequently' based on the condition set in the first clause.

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