How to use 想…就…
想 + Verb + 就 + Verb
想…就… connects wanting to do something with going ahead and doing it. The first part states the desire, and the second presents the corresponding action. Repeating the action verb makes the relationship clear. Depending on context, the speaker may be offering permission, encouragement, or describing someone acting entirely according to personal preference.
A question word can extend the pattern to unrestricted choice. Repeat the relevant question expression in the second part so both clauses refer to the same option: the desired place, person, thing, or time. These words are not asking a direct question here. Their position follows their grammatical role, so a time expression need not occupy the same place as an object.
Examples with pinyin and English
想吃就吃。
If you want to eat, help yourself.
想走就走吧。
Leave if you want to.
想买就买，不用问我。
If you want to buy it, go ahead. You don't need to ask me.
别害怕， 想说就说。
Don't be afraid. If you want to say, say it.
What to remember
- Repeat the relevant action or choice.
- 就 introduces following through on the desire.
- Question words can express unrestricted options.
Practise the pattern
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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.