想⋯⋯就⋯⋯

xiǎng …… jiù ……

Expressing "as one likes" with "jiu"

Repeating a question word around 就 means "whatever/wherever you like".

想 + Question Word + 就 + same Question Word

How it works

想去哪儿就去哪儿 — go wherever you want. The same question word appears twice, once in each half.

It works across the set: 想吃什么就吃什么, 想什么时候来就什么时候来.

The effect is permissive, sometimes indulgent — it grants total freedom.

Examples

  • xiǎng qù nǎr jiù qù nǎr

    想去哪儿就去哪儿。

    Go wherever you like.

  • nǐ xiǎng chī shén me jiù chī shén me

    你想吃什么就吃什么。

    Eat whatever you want.

  • xiǎng shén me shí hou lái jiù shén me shí hou lái

    想什么时候来就什么时候来。

    Come whenever you like.