Chinese

Conjunction

就是

1. even if (The verb of the following part of the sentence will be preceded by 也 (yě))

   就是下雨，我們也要去。 [MSC, trad.]

   就是下雨，我们也要去。 [MSC, simp.]

   Jiùshì xiàyǔ, wǒmen yě yào qù. [Pinyin]

   Even if it rains, we shall go.

   就是讓她來，也晚了。 [MSC, trad.]

   就是让她来，也晚了。 [MSC, simp.]

   Jiùshì ràng tā lái, yě wǎn le. [Pinyin]

   Even if she comes, it will be too late.

2. even

   就是現在，他的步子還是很壯健有力的。 [MSC, trad.]

   就是现在，他的步子还是很壮健有力的。 [MSC, simp.]

   Jiùshì xiànzài, tā de bùzǐ háishì hěn zhuàngjiàn yǒulì de. [Pinyin]

   Even now he walked with a vigorous step.

3. (emphasis) just, really

   我從不吃菠菜。我就是不喜歡那味兒。 [MSC, trad.]

   我从不吃菠菜。我就是不喜欢那味儿。 [MSC, simp.]

   Wǒ cóngbù chī bōcài. Wǒ jiùshì bù xǐhuān nà wèir. [Pinyin]

   I never eat spinach. I just don't like the taste.

4. like, in the same way as

Usage notes

就是……也 (yě) is used to express "even if" in case of a hypothetical statement. This construction is the same as 即使 (jíshǐ)……也, 即便 (jíbiàn)……也, 縱使／纵使 (zòngshǐ)……也, 哪怕 (nǎpà)……也 and 就算 (jiùsuàn)……也. There are differences with the last two: 就算 gives a feeling that the hypothesis has little chance of being realized, while 哪怕 is stronger.

If the statement is not hypothetical, 雖然／虽然 (suīrán)……但是 (dànshì) is used instead.

Synonyms

• (even if): 即使 (jíshǐ), 即便 (jíbiàn), 縱使／纵使 (zòngshǐ), 哪怕 (nǎpà), 就算 (jiùsuàn)

See also

• (even though): 雖然／虽然 (suīrán)

Interjection

就是

1. it sure is!; exactly!

Synonyms

• 可不是嗎／可不是吗 (kě bù shì ma)
• 沒錯／没错 (méicuò)
• 誰說不是呢／谁说不是呢 (shéi shuō bù shì ne)

Verb

就是

1. to be precisely; to be none other than; it is ... that

   • 生命在他裏頭，這生命就是人的光。 [MSC, trad.]

     生命在他里头，这生命就是人的光。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 新標點和合本 (Chinese Union Version with New Punctuation), 約翰福音 (John) 1:4

     Shēngmìng zài tā lǐtou, zhè shēngmìng jiùshì rén de guāng. [Pinyin]

     In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Synonyms

• 即是 (jíshì)
• 便是 (biànshì)

References

• “Expressing "even if…" with "jiushi"”, in Chinese Grammar Wiki (in Mandarin/English), (Please provide a date or year)
• “Entry #8330”, in 臺灣閩南語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwan Minnan] (in Chinese and Min Nan), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2011.