The Word “Just”: Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages
The word “just” is a highly versatile term in English, with meanings that vary based on context. It can function as an adjective, adverb, or even part of idiomatic expressions. Its usage spans descriptions of fairness, time, and degree, making it a critical word in communication. In this exploration, we’ll examine the multifaceted nature of “just,” its diverse applications, and its translations across 30 languages.
Meanings of “Just”
- As an Adjective (Fair or Right):
- Refers to something morally right, equitable, or reasonable.
- Example: “It was a just decision to reward the hard-working employees.”
- As an Adverb (Recently or Close to Now):
- Describes an action that occurred a short time ago or is about to happen.
- Example: “I just finished my homework.”
- As an Adverb (Exactly or Precisely):
- Highlights precision or accuracy in description.
- Example: “The dress fits her just right.”
- As an Adverb (Barely or Only):
- Indicates minimal or restrictive conditions.
- Example: “He’s just a beginner but learns quickly.”
Common Usages of “Just” in Sentences
- Fairness or Morality:
- “The judge made a just ruling based on the evidence.”
- “A just society values equality and fairness.”
- Time-Related:
- “I just saw her leave the room.”
- “He’s just about to start his presentation.”
- Precision:
- “That’s just the way I imagined it would look.”
- “The house is just five minutes from here.”
- Minimization or Restriction:
- “She’s just a friend, nothing more.”
- “We were just talking about you!”
Translations of “Just” in 30 Languages
| Language | Translation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | Justo (adj.), Sólo (adv.) | “Es un juez justo.” / “Solo quería ayudarte.” |
| French | Juste | “C’est une décision juste.” / “Je viens juste de finir.” |
| German | Gerecht (adj.), Gerade (adv.) | “Eine gerechte Lösung.” / “Ich habe es gerade gemacht.” |
| Italian | Giusto | “Un giudizio giusto.” / “L’ho appena finito.” |
| Portuguese | Justo (adj.), Apenas (adv.) | “É uma causa justa.” / “Eu acabei de chegar.” |
| Dutch | Rechtvaardig (adj.), Net (adv.) | “Een rechtvaardige beslissing.” / “Ik heb het net gedaan.” |
| Russian | Справедливый (Spravedlivyy, adj.), Только (Tol’ko, adv.) | “Это справедливое решение.” / “Я только что пришёл.” |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 公正 (Gōngzhèng, adj.), 刚刚 (Gānggāng, adv.) | “这是一项公正的决定。” / “我刚刚完成了。” |
| Japanese | 公正 (Kōsei, adj.), ちょうど (Chōdo, adv.) | “これは公正な判断です。” / “私はちょうど終わったところです。” |
| Korean | 공정한 (Gongjeonghan, adj.), 방금 (Bang-geum, adv.) | “그것은 공정한 결정이었다.” / “방금 끝냈어요.” |
| Hindi | न्यायपूर्ण (Nyāypūrṇ, adj.), बस (Bas, adv.) | “यह एक न्यायपूर्ण निर्णय था।” / “मैंने बस इसे समाप्त किया।” |
| Bengali | ন্যায়সঙ্গত (Nyāyôsônggôt, adj.), শুধু (Shudhu, adv.) | “এটি একটি ন্যায়সঙ্গত রায়।” / “আমি শুধু শেষ করেছি।” |
| Turkish | Adil (adj.), Sadece (adv.) | “Bu adil bir karar.” / “Ben sadece bitirdim.” |
| Greek | Δίκαιος (Díkaios, adj.), Μόλις (Mólis, adv.) | “Αυτό είναι μια δίκαιη απόφαση.” / “Μόλις τελείωσα.” |
| Hebrew | צודק (Tzodek, adj.), רק (Rak, adv.) | “זו הייתה החלטה צודקת.” / “רק עכשיו סיימתי.” |
| Swedish | Rättvis (adj.), Precis (adv.) | “Ett rättvist beslut.” / “Jag är precis klar.” |
| Norwegian | Rettferdig (adj.), Akkurat (adv.) | “En rettferdig dom.” / “Jeg er akkurat ferdig.” |
| Danish | Retfærdig (adj.), Lige (adv.) | “En retfærdig løsning.” / “Jeg er lige blevet færdig.” |
| Finnish | Oikeudenmukainen (adj.), Juuri (adv.) | “Oikeudenmukainen päätös.” / “Olen juuri lopettanut.” |
| Polish | Sprawiedliwy (adj.), Właśnie (adv.) | “Sprawiedliwa decyzja.” / “Właśnie skończyłem.” |
| Czech | Spravedlivý (adj.), Právě (adv.) | “To bylo spravedlivé rozhodnutí.” / “Právě jsem skončil.” |
| Hungarian | Igazságos (adj.), Éppen (adv.) | “Ez egy igazságos döntés.” / “Éppen most fejeztem be.” |
| Romanian | Just | “O decizie justă.” / “Tocmai am terminat.” |
| Thai | ยุติธรรม (Yuttitham, adj.), เพิ่ง (Phueng, adv.) | “นี่คือการตัดสินใจที่ยุติธรรม.” / “ฉันเพิ่งทำเสร็จ.” |
| Vietnamese | Công bằng (adj.), Vừa (adv.) | “Đây là một quyết định công bằng.” / “Tôi vừa làm xong.” |
| Indonesian | Adil (adj.), Baru saja (adv.) | “Keputusan itu adil.” / “Saya baru saja selesai.” |
| Malay | Adil (adj.), Baru (adv.) | “Itu keputusan yang adil.” / “Saya baru selesai.” |
| Swahili | Haki (adj.), Tu (adv.) | “Ni uamuzi wa haki.” / “Nimekamilisha tu.” |
| Filipino | Makatarungan (adj.), Lang (adv.) | “Makatarungan ang desisyon.” / “Katatapos ko lang.” |
| Arabic | عادل (ʿĀdil, adj.), فقط (Faqaṭ, adv.) | “كان قرارًا عادلًا.” / “لقد أنهيت للتو.” |
Additional Examples
- Spanish:
- “Este es un sistema justo para todos.”
- “Acabo de hablar con él.”
- French:
- “C’est une loi juste pour les citoyens.”
- “Je viens juste de rentrer.”
- Russian:
- “Справедливый суд важен для общества.”
- “Я только что закончил работу.”
- Chinese (Simplified):
- “公正的决定很重要。”
- “我刚刚完成了作业。”
- Arabic:
- “نظام عادل يضمن حقوق الجميع.”
- “لقد أنهيت العمل للتو.”
The word “just” exemplifies the richness and adaptability of language, allowing for a wide array of expressions related to fairness, precision, and immediacy. Through its translations and examples, we see its universal applicability and importance in fostering understanding, equity, and clarity in communication.
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