Just

Question

Hi. "Just" is really tough for me to grasp the whole usage for me. I often lose words when I come across it, and don't understand the exact meaning, why they have used it there!

We just stop thinking about it when we should be.

Please tell me what this "just" exactly means?

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Here just = simply.

Teleostomi · Answer

Thank you Mr Mic the Mentor.

Is that "simply" equal to "only"?

CalifJim · Answer

You can add just when you want to express very briefly the idea that the situation is not the least bit complicated. This usage is almost the same as adding, "It's as simple as that", or "That's all there is to it", or "There's nothing more to it".

We just stop thinking about it. =
We stop thinking about it. It's as simple as that.
There's nothing more complicated about it. We stop thinking about it, and that's all.

Mark just doesn't understand. =
Mark doesn't understand. It's as simple as that. There's no more to say about it.

It's easy to drive down a narrow street. You just point in the right direction and close your eyes! =
It's as simple as this: You point in the right direction and close your eyes!
You do no more than point in the right direction and close your eyes!
All you do is point in the right direction and close your eyes!

When someone insults you, you should just ignore them. =
When ..., you should ignore them. It's as simple as that.
When ..., all you should do is ignore them. There's nothing more complicated about it than that.
When ..., you should ignore them. That's all there is to it.

(just is not the same as only, and it's not the same as exactly, though there is a sort of family resemblance among all of these.)

I don't know, but I think it may be difficult because there's so much meaning in one little word.

CJ

Just

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