just
part of speech
adverb (just); adjective (just — fair)
meaning for a pupil
1) Just means exactly: «just right», «just 2 metres». tree →
2) Just means only: «just 3 dollars», «just one more». tree →
3) Just means a very short time ago: «he has just left». tree →
4) Just means barely: «just in time», «just enough». tree →
5) Just (adjective) means fair and right: «a just king». tree →
6) (casual) «Just» softens or fills: «I just think…», «just saying»; «just kidding» means I was joking. tree →
7) (casual, rough) «Just» makes an order sharper: «just shut up», «just do it», «just split 'em». tree →
8) (formal) «Merely», «precisely», «solely» and «equitable» (fair) are stiff words for just. tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: In the Torah "just" mostly means fair and honest, as in just weights and balances. In Job it also means being in the right, or righteous, before God. Interpretation: Tradition teaches honest scales and measures as a basic law. Cheating in business is seen as a serious sin against God. Job's friends ask whether any human can be righteous before God, a question the book explores. In the primary lessons: In school maths: a small word that marks «only» or «exactly», or a change that has just happened; «just enough» means nothing left over. In everyday life: «just a minute», «just kidding», «I was just going to...». In stories: a just ruler is fair to everyone. In casual talk: «just saying», «jk» (just kidding). In the exam voice: «precisely 2 metres», «a mere 3 dollars», «an equitable distribution». Phrases: «just in time», «just enough», «just now», «just about», «just like», «just in case».
examples
- The Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice; a God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is He. (Torah DEU.32.4, JPS 1917) tree →
- Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. (Torah LEV.19.36, JPS 1917) tree →
- A perfect and just weight shalt thou have; a perfect and just measure shalt thou have; that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. (Torah DEU.25.15, JPS 1917) tree →
- 'Shall mortal man be just before God? (Writings JOB.4.17, JPS 1917) tree →
- How then can man be just with God? (Writings JOB.25.4, JPS 1917) tree →
- And wilt thou condemn Him that is just and mighty — (Writings JOB.34.17, JPS 1917) tree →
- She has just 3 dollars left. tree →
- He just bought 5 pens. tree →
- There is just enough cake for 8 children. tree →
- It is just 2 metres long. tree →
- We got to the station just in time. tree →
- The porridge was just right. tree →
- Wait just a minute, please. tree →
- The judge was wise and just. tree →
- just kidding, i've got 4 not 2 lol (casual) tree →
- Sod it, just split 'em, 3 each. (rough) tree →
- Just do your homework and stop moaning. (rough) tree →
- The cake is divided equitably among 8 children such that precisely no portion remains; determine the original number of slices given 3 per child. (formal exam) tree →
- The girls arrived just in time. tree →
note
«Just» goes before the main verb: «I have just finished». «Justice» is the noun of the fair sense. Maths: «just enough» means no leftover (exact division). «Just» = «only» does not change the number. Trap: do not read «just» as a sign to add or subtract. Trap: «just kidding» means the number before it was not real — use the corrected one. Formal «merely» = just (only); «precisely» = just (exactly); «equitable» = just (fair).
In the corpora
- The way of the just is straight; Thou, Most Upright, makest plain the path of the just.
- And there is no God else beside Me, a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside Me.
- Didst thou not just now cry unto Me: 'My father, Thou art the friend of my youth.
- But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
- Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «just» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.