'将就' is a verb meaning 'to make do with something less than ideal'—often due to constraints like time, money, availability, or convenience. Literally, 将 (jiāng) can mean 'to take' or 'to handle', and 就 (jiù) means 'to approach' or 'to conform to'; together, they convey the idea of adjusting oneself to accept what’s available rather than insisting on perfection or preference. It carries a mild tone of compromise, not resignation, and often implies practicality or humility.

The word is commonly used in everyday situations: choosing simpler food when dining out late, using an older device instead of waiting for a new one, or staying in a modest hotel while traveling. It’s neutral to slightly positive—suggesting adaptability—but can sound self-deprecating if overused. It rarely appears in formal writing and is mostly conversational. Unlike passive verbs, '将就' always takes a direct object (e.g., 将就一下、将就这间房), and is frequently softened with '一下' to soften the request.