How to use 就是
就是 + Verb
就是 can identify a person or thing precisely, emphasizing that it is the one under discussion. With a noun phrase after it, the sentence often means “is exactly” or “is the very.” The emphasis helps connect an identified subject with a description, role, or answer that matters in context.
In other predicates, 就 or 就是 can strengthen an assertion, refusal, or explanation. English may use “just,” “simply,” or spoken stress to convey the effect. A negative statement can sound insistent or stubborn, but that attitude comes from the whole situation and delivery. Do not treat every 就是 sentence as provocative; the construction also serves straightforward clarification and precise identification in ordinary conversation.
Examples with pinyin and English
那个人就是她的新男朋友。
That guy is her new boyfriend.
他就是你要找的人。
He's just the person that you're looking for.
我们就是他的家人。
We're his family.
你就是个笨蛋！
A moron is precisely what you are!
What to remember
- Use 就是 for precise identification.
- It can also strengthen an entire assertion.
- Tone determines whether emphasis sounds stubborn.
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Source and editorial notes
Explanation rewritten for Laowai. Examples are adapted from the Laowai English grammar curriculum, with editorial corrections where needed. The original curriculum credits AllSet Learning’s Chinese Grammar Wiki as used with permission. Read the retained source credits.
Difficulty labels describe the level of the explanation; they are not official HSK placement. Send a correction with this page’s URL.