HSK 2 grammar · new HSK syllabus
一…就…: as soon as
一 A 就 B = as soon as A happens, B happens: 我一到家就睡觉了.
Structure
- Subject + 一 + verb，(subject) + 就 + verb
How it works
一…就… joins two actions: the second happens right after the first, or every time the first happens.
Both 一 and 就 go before verbs, after the subjects: 他一回家就看电视; 我一说，他就懂了.
Examples
-
我一到家就给你打电话。
Wǒ yí dào jiā jiù gěi nǐ dǎdiànhuà.
I’ll call you as soon as I get home.
-
他一下课就去打篮球。
Tā yí xiàkè jiù qù dǎ lánqiú.
He goes to play basketball as soon as class ends.
-
我一喝咖啡就睡不着。
Wǒ yì hē kāfēi jiù shuì bù zhe.
Whenever I drink coffee, I can’t sleep.
-
老师一说，我们就懂了。
Lǎoshī yì shuō, wǒmen jiù dǒng le.
As soon as the teacher explained, we understood.
-
她一看见我就笑了。
Tā yí kànjiàn wǒ jiù xiào le.
She smiled as soon as she saw me.
Words in these examples (26)
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 到 | dào | to arrive; to go to | HSK 1 |
| 家 | jiā | home; family; (measure word for shops and companies) | HSK 1 |
| 就 | jiù | then; just; right away; only | HSK 2 |
| 给 | gěi | to give; for; to | HSK 1 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 打电话 | dǎdiànhuà | to make a phone call | HSK 1 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 下课 | xiàkè | to finish class | HSK 1 |
| 去 | qù | to go | HSK 1 |
| 打 | dǎ | to hit; to play (ball games); to make (a call) | HSK 2 |
| 篮球 | lánqiú | basketball | HSK 2 |
| 喝 | hē | to drink | HSK 1 |
| 咖啡 | kāfēi | coffee | HSK 2 |
| 睡 | shuì | to sleep | HSK 1 |
| 不 | bù | not; no | HSK 1 |
| 着 | zhe | (particle after a verb: in a state of, as in 坐着) | HSK 2 |
| 老师 | lǎoshī | teacher | HSK 1 |
| 说 | shuō | to say; to speak | HSK 1 |
| 我们 | wǒmen | we; us | HSK 1 |
| 懂 | dǒng | to understand | HSK 2 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 她 | tā | she; her | HSK 1 |
| 看见 | kànjiàn | to see; to catch sight of | HSK 1 |
| 笑 | xiào | to laugh; to smile | HSK 2 |
Common mistakes
-
✗一我到家，就打电话。
✓我一到家就打电话。
一 goes after the subject, before the verb.
-
✗我一到家，我打电话。
✓我一到家就打电话。
Don’t leave out 就.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 他 起床就喝咖啡。
2. 我一看这本书 想睡觉。
3. 你一到机场 给我打电话。