一…就: “as soon as” in Chinese
一 V1 就 V2
as soon as … then
As soon as the first thing happens, the second follows. Both verbs come straight after their particle, with no subject repeated in the second half.
他一回家就睡觉。
Tā yì huí jiā jiù shuìjiào.
The moment he gets home he goes to sleep.
Seen in these stories
Every sentence below comes from a free graded story you can read in full, with pinyin over each word.
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商家提前一个月就开始做广告。
Merchants start advertising a full month ahead.
网上购物 Online Shopping · HSK 4
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在很多家庭里,泡一壶茶就是欢迎客人的方式。
In many homes, brewing a pot of tea is simply how a guest is welcomed.
中国茶文化 Chinese Tea Culture · HSK 4
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只要用手机扫一下,就可以骑车去任何地方。
With just a swipe of your phone, you can ride one anywhere.
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这些声音混在一起,就是弄堂的闹钟。
These sounds mixed together are the lane's alarm clock.
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家长站在考场外面,一站就是三个小时。
Parents stand outside the exam hall, and once they start they stand for three hours.
高考 The College Entrance Exam · HSK 5
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马帮在路上一走就是几个月。
The horse caravans (mabang) walked the road for months on end.
茶马古道 The Ancient Tea Horse Road · HSK 6