Expressing "just now" with "gangcai"

In order to say that something "just now" occurred, use the time noun 刚才 (gāngcái). It can be placed in front of the verb or the subject of a statement.

Structure

This grammar structure is pretty straightforward. Similar to the English "just now," you put it right before the verb. It can also come before the subject or after the subject.

刚才 + Verb

Examples

• 你 刚才 说 什么 了？
• 你们 刚才 做 什么 了？
• 他 刚才 喝 了 一 瓶 可乐。
• 不好意思，我 刚才 出去 了。I'm sorry, I just now stepped out.
• 宝宝 刚才 笑 了。The baby just now laughed.
• 刚才 你去 哪儿 了？Just now where did you go?
• 刚才 我 吃 了 一个 冰淇淋。Just now I ate an ice cream.
• 刚才 我 去 洗手间 了。Just now I went to the washroom.
• 刚才 我 开会 了。
• 刚才 一 个 女孩儿 来 这里 找 你 了。Just now a girl came here looking for you.

See also

• Comparing "gang" and "gangcai"
• Explaining results with "suoyi"
• Cause and effect with "yinwei" and "suoyi"
• Stating the effect before the cause (advanced article)

Sources and further reading

Books

• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 217)→buy