想 + QW + 就 + QW (whatever you like)
Total freedom, one repeated word
- "Eat whatever you want", "go wherever you like" — total freedom.
- Chinese repeats the same question word: QW … then / just就 … QW.
- want / think / miss想variant of 吃吃what什么then / just就variant of 吃吃what什么 = "eat whatever you want."
want / think / miss想 + QW + then / just就 + (Verb) + same QW
- The repeated question word ties the two halves together.
you你want想eat吃what什么then就eat吃what什么。
- want / think / miss想variant of 吃吃what什么then / just就variant of 吃吃what什么 = "eat whatever you want."
Practice
Eat whatever you want: 想吃什么 ____ 吃什么。
QW … 就 … same QW = whatever you like: 想吃什么就吃什么.
Practice
Build: “Eat whatever you want.”
想 + QW + 就 + same QW: 想吃什么 + 就 + 吃什么.
Works with any question word
- want / think / miss想to go去where哪儿then / just就to go去where哪儿 (go wherever), want / think / miss想to buy买which哪个then / just就to buy买which哪个 (buy whichever).
Explore
Correct or broken?
想 + QW + 就 + the SAME QW and verb — total freedom by repetition.
Practice
What must be true about the two question words?
Repeat the same QW: 想去哪儿就去哪儿, 想买哪个就买哪个.
Practice
想吃什么就喝什么 (different words) is the correct pattern.
The two question words must match: 想吃什么就吃什么.
Recap
Key idea
- QW … then / just就 … (same QW) — "whatever / wherever / whichever you like"
- want / think / miss想variant of 吃吃what什么then / just就variant of 吃吃what什么 (eat whatever you want)
- Repeat the SAME question word both times
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Basic sentence patterns.