HOME > WordMaster® > JUST vs. EXACTLY | ～だけ vs. ちょうど
2009.11.16 (Review
of 2003.10.01 edition)
Greetings! It's a brand new day and a brand new week. The WordMaster has arrived, and all is well with the world!
When money changes hands, words usually need to be exchanged, as well. But what to say? Well, the WordMaster has the answers this week as he looks at some of the finer points of paying for goods and services!
JUST vs. EXACTLY ～だけ vs. ちょうど
- In American English, when the word just is used together with an amount (for example, “just three”), it usually means “only”. It's used to stress that the amount is not very large.
When the word exactly is used together with an amount, it means “no more and no less”.
Be Careful! In American English, we do NOT use the word just (with an amount) like the Japanese ジャスト to mean exactly. - アメリカ英語では、（例えば just three のように）数量を表す言葉とともに just を使うと、～だけ、という意味になります。数量があまり多くないことを強調するために使います。
数量を表す言葉とともに exactly を使うと、多くも少なくもない、つまり、ぴったり、という意味になります。
注意：アメリカ英語では、（数量を表す言葉がついた場合） just という言葉を、日本語の「ジャスト」のように「ぴったり」という意味では使いません。
- The subway station is just two blocks away.
- It's hard to believe we were in Spain just a month ago. It seems so much longer.
- a: Would you like some more rice?
b: Just a little, please. - (teacher to student)
There were just a few spelling mistakes. Otherwise, your paper was excellent. - (to a basketball player)
a: How tall are you?
b: Exactly two meters. - I now have exactly¥5,000,000 in my savings account.
- It was exactly 20 years ago today that my wife and I first met.
Until tomorrow!