Difference between revisions of "Expressing "just" with "gang""

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*我们 <em>刚</em> 知道。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>gāng</em> zhīdào. </span> <span class="trans">We just found out.</span>
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*我们 <em>刚</em> 知道。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>gāng</em> zhīdào. </span><span class="trans">We just found out.</span>
*她们 <em>刚</em> 走。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>gāng</em> zǒu.</span> <span class="trans">They just left. </span>
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*她们 <em>刚</em> 走。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>gāng</em> zǒu.</span><span class="trans">They just left. </span>
*老板 <em>刚刚</em> 到 办公室。<span class="pinyin"> Lǎobǎn <em>gānggāng</em> dào bàngōngshì. </span> <span class="trans">The boss just arrived at the office.</span>
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*老板 <em>刚刚</em> 到 办公室。<span class="pinyin"> Lǎobǎn <em>gānggāng</em> dào bàngōngshì. </span><span class="trans">The boss just arrived at the office.</span>
*我 老婆 <em>刚</em> 生 完 孩子。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ lǎopo <em>gāng</em> shēng wán háizi. </span> <span class="trans">My wife just finished giving birth to our baby.</span>
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*我 老婆 <em>刚</em> 生 完 孩子。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ lǎopo <em>gāng</em> shēng wán háizi. </span><span class="trans">My wife just finished giving birth to our baby.</span>
*你 <em>刚刚</em> 下班 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>gānggāng</em> xiàbān ma? </span> <span class="trans">Did you just get off work?</span>
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*你 <em>刚刚</em> 下班 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>gānggāng</em> xiàbān ma? </span><span class="trans">Did you just get off work?</span>
  
 
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*我 <em>刚</em> 认识 她 <strong> 十 天</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>gāng</em> rènshi tā <strong>shí tiān</strong>. </span> <span class="trans">I just met her ten days ago.</span>
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*我 <em>刚</em> 认识 她 <strong> 十 天</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>gāng</em> rènshi tā <strong>shí tiān</strong>. </span><span class="trans">I just met her ten days ago.</span>
*他 <em>刚</em> 来 中国 <strong>两 个 月</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>gāng</em> lái Zhōngguó <strong>liǎng gè yuè</strong>.</span> <span class="trans">He just got to China two months ago.</span>
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*他 <em>刚</em> 来 中国 <strong>两 个 月</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>gāng</em> lái Zhōngguó <strong>liǎng gè yuè</strong>.</span><span class="trans">He just got to China two months ago.</span>
*我 弟弟 <em>刚</em> 工作 <strong>半年</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ dìdi <em>gāng</em> gōngzuò <strong> bàn nián </strong>.</span> <span class="trans">My younger brother just started working half a year ago.</span>
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*我 弟弟 <em>刚</em> 工作 <strong>半年</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ dìdi <em>gāng</em> gōngzuò <strong> bàn nián </strong>.</span><span class="trans">My younger brother just started working half a year ago.</span>
*她  <em>刚</em> 结婚 <strong> 三 个 月 </strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>gāng</em> jiéhūn <strong>sān gè yuè</strong>.</span> <span class="trans">She just got married three months ago. </span>
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*她  <em>刚</em> 结婚 <strong> 三 个 月 </strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>gāng</em> jiéhūn <strong>sān gè yuè</strong>.</span><span class="trans">She just got married three months ago. </span>
*我 的 车 <em>刚</em> 买 <strong>两 天</strong>,开 的时候 小心 点。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de chē <em>gāng</em> mǎi <strong>liǎng tiān</strong>, kāi de shíhou xiǎoxīn diǎn. </span> <span class="trans">I just bought the car two days ago. Be careful when you drive. </span>
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*我 的 车 <em>刚</em> 买 <strong>两 天</strong>,开 的时候 小心 点。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de chē <em>gāng</em> mǎi <strong>liǎng tiān</strong>, kāi de shíhou xiǎoxīn diǎn. </span><span class="trans">I just bought the car two days ago. Be careful when you drive. </span>
  
 
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Revision as of 03:56, 24 May 2017

For events that happened in the immediate past, in English we use the word "just." For example, if you pass a turn you were supposed to make, you might say, "I just passed it!" In Chinese, "just" can be expressed with 刚 (gāng) or 刚刚 (gānggāng).

Expressing "Just" Happened

Structure

刚 (gāng) expresses an action that happened not long ago. 刚刚 (gānggāng) is used the same way, with the same meaning.

Subj. + 刚 + Verb

or

Subj. + 刚刚 + Verb

Examples

  • 我们 知道。Wǒmen gāng zhīdào. We just found out.
  • 她们 走。Tāmen gāng zǒu.They just left.
  • 老板 刚刚 到 办公室。 Lǎobǎn gānggāng dào bàngōngshì. The boss just arrived at the office.
  • 我 老婆 生 完 孩子。Wǒ lǎopo gāng shēng wán háizi. My wife just finished giving birth to our baby.
  • 刚刚 下班 吗?gānggāng xiàbān ma? Did you just get off work?

"Just" Happened with a Specific Time Period

This more complicated use of 刚 (gāng) is not nearly as essential as the one above, but you may find it useful

Structure

刚 (gāng) can also express "from the time an action happens until the present time."

Subj. + 刚 + Verb (+ Obj.) + Duration

Note that although we need to say "ago" in English, in this pattern there's no need for a word that means "ago."

Examples

  • 认识 她 十 天gāng rènshi tā shí tiān. I just met her ten days ago.
  • 来 中国 两 个 月gāng lái Zhōngguó liǎng gè yuè.He just got to China two months ago.
  • 我 弟弟 工作 半年Wǒ dìdi gāng gōngzuò bàn nián .My younger brother just started working half a year ago.
  • 结婚 三 个 月 gāng jiéhūn sān gè yuè.She just got married three months ago.
  • 我 的 车 两 天,开 的时候 小心 点。Wǒ de chē gāng mǎi liǎng tiān, kāi de shíhou xiǎoxīn diǎn. I just bought the car two days ago. Be careful when you drive.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books