就 (only / just — small quantity)
"Just that little"
- then / just就 can stress a small quantity: "only / just (that few)".
- then / just就he / him他一个person人 = "just him, alone"; then / just就to remain剩these这些 = "only these are left".
- Here then / just就 means "merely", not "then".
then / just就 + (small quantity)
- then / just就 before a small amount = "only that much".
only就him他one一person个人。
- then / just就he / him他一个person人 = "(it's) just him, alone."
Practice
It's just him, alone: ____ 他一个人。
就 + small quantity = only that few: 就他一个人.
"Merely", not "then"
- This then / just就 highlights how few / little — different from the "then" then / just就.
Explore
Correct or broken?
就 before an amount shrinks it: just one, only a glance.
Practice
Here 就 means…
This 就 stresses how few: 就他一个人, 就剩这些.
Practice
This 就 means the sequencing “then”.
Here 就 = “only / merely”, not the sequencing “then”.
Recap
Key idea
- then / just就 + small quantity — "only / just (that few)": then / just就he / him他一个person人
- then / just就to remain剩these这些(completed / change)了 = only these are left
- Here then / just就 = "merely", not the sequencing "then"
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Adverbs.