The structure 想…就…
The structure 想…就… 
is used to say: “if you want to do something, do it”.
The ellipsis is replaced with a verb or a verb phrase.
is used to say: “if you want to do something, do it”.
The ellipsis is replaced with a verb or a verb phrase.Scheme
(subject)
想
predicate
verb/phrase
就
predicate
verb/phrase
Pay attention
就 is often omitted in colloquial speech.
Examples
在我们家想吃就吃，想喝就喝，千万别客气
You can eat and drink as much as you want in our house. Help yourself
zài wǒmen jiā xiǎng chī jiù chī, xiǎng hē jiù hē, qiānwàn bié kèqi
那是我的钱，我想留给谁就留给谁
It is my money. I’ll leave it to whoever I want
nà shì wǒ de qián, wǒ xiǎng liú gěi shéi jiù liú gěi shéi
In a negative sentence, the negative determiner 不 is placed before 想 and after 就.
is placed before 想 and after 就.Scheme
subject
不想
predicate
verb/phrase
就不
predicate
verb/phrase
Examples
学习可要坚持，不能想学就学，不想学就不学
When it comes to studying, you have to be diligent. You cannot study only when you want to
xuéxí kě yào jiānchí, bù néng xiǎng xué jiù xué, bù xiǎng xué jiù bù xué
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