Difference between revisions of "Expressing "just" with "gang""
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
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Sometimes things happen in a flash, or they happen a very short time before you talk about them. In English we use the word "just", and in Chinese we express "just" with 刚 (gāng).
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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).
  
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== Expressing "just" happened ==
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== Expressing "Just" Happened ==
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
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刚 expresses that the action happened not long ago. It's used the same way as 刚刚.  
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刚 (gāng) expresses an action that happened not long ago. 刚刚 (gānggāng) is used the same way, with the same meaning.  
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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Subject + 刚 + Verb
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Subj. + 刚 + Verb
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</div>
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or
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<div class="jiegou">
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Subj. + 刚刚 + Verb
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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* 我 <em>刚</em> 知道。<span class="trans">I 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>
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* 他 <em>刚</em> 工作。<span class="trans">He just started working.</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>
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* 我 <em>刚</em> 买 了 很 多 水果。<span class="trans">I just bought a lot of fruit.</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>
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* 他 <em>刚</em> 走。<span class="trans">He just left.</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>
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* 我们 <em>刚</em> 下班。<span class="trans">We just got 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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* 宝宝 <em>刚</em> 起床。<span class="trans">The baby just woke up.</span>
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* 老公 <em>刚</em> 回 家。<span class="trans">The husband just came home.</span>
 
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* 我 <em>刚</em> 吃 完 饭。<span class="trans">I just finished eating.</span>
 
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* 我 <em>刚</em> 做 完 今天 的 工作。<span class="trans">I just finished today's work.</span>
 
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* 他 <em>刚</em> 来 我们 公司。<span class="trans">He just came to our office.</span>
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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== Expressing "from then until now" ==
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== "Just" Within a Specific Time Period ==
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This more complicated use of 刚 (gāng) is not nearly as essential as the one above, but you may find it useful to specify just ''when'' the event "just" occurred, specifically.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
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刚 can also express "from the time an action happens until the present time".
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刚 (gāng) can also express "from the time an action happens until the present time."
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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Subject + 刚 + VO + Duration
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Subj. + 刚 + Verb (+ Obj.)  + Duration
 
</div>
 
</div>
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 +
Note that although we need to say "ago" in English, in this pattern there's no need for a word that means "ago."
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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* 我 <em>刚</em> 到 这里 <strong>五 分钟</strong>。<span class="trans">I just got here five minutes ago.</span>
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* 我 <em>刚</em> 来 中国 <strong>半 年</strong>。<span class="trans">I just got to China six months 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>
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* 我 <em>刚</em> 学 中文 <strong>两 个 星期</strong>。<span class="trans">I just started studying Chinese two weeks 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>
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* 他 <em>刚</em> 走 <strong>十 分钟</strong>。<span class="trans">He just walked five minutes.</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>
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* 我们 <em>刚</em> 认识 <strong>一 个 月</strong>。<span class="trans">We just knew each other for a month.</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>
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* 他 <em>刚</em> 工作 <strong>一 年</strong>。<span class="trans">He just worked a year.</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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* 小心 点，这 个 电脑 <em>刚</em> 买 <strong>两 天</strong>。<span class="trans">Be careful, I just bought that computer two days ago.</span>
 
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* 我 也 <em>刚</em> 知道 <strong>两 分钟</strong>。<span class="trans">I just found out two minutes ago.</span>
 
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* 他 <em>刚</em> <strong>出去</strong>。<span class="trans">He just went out.</span>
 
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* 他 <em>刚</em> 去 美国 <strong>一 个 星期</strong>。<span class="trans">He just went to America for one week.</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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Make sure you pay attention to "刚来一会儿." and "刚来没一会儿。". Both have the same meaning, expressing that the 来 (arrival) happened just a short while ago.
 
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<div class="liju">
 
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*我 刚 来 到 这 个 公 司。 <span class="trans"> I just arrived at this company.</span>
 
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*他 才 刚 来 没 以 会 儿。<span class="trans"> He just arrived not long ago.</span>
 
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
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* [[现代汉语八百词（增订本）]] (p. 216)[http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 4上|6}}
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*[[卓越汉语－公司实战篇]] (p. 239) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD-%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87-%E8%83%A1%E7%81%B5%E5%9D%87/dp/B003QZWQ6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347863170&sr=8-1 →buy]
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{{Source|现代汉语八百词（增订本）|216}}
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* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (p. 81) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
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{{Source|卓越汉语－公司实战篇|239}}
 +
{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|81}}
  
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
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{{Basic Grammar|刚|A2|Subject + 刚 + V.|他 <em>刚</em> 走。|grammar point|ASGQJJYO}}
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{{HSK|HSK4}}
 +
{{Basic Grammar|刚|A2|Subj. + 刚 + Verb|他 <em>刚</em> 走。|grammar point|ASGQJJYO}}
 
{{Rel char|刚刚}}
 
{{Rel char|刚刚}}
 
{{Similar|"Just now" with "gangcai"}}   
 
{{Similar|"Just now" with "gangcai"}}   

Latest revision as of 04:45, 9 March 2019

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 刚 知道。Wǒmen gāng zhīdào.We just found out.
  • 她们 刚 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 刚 生 完 孩子。Wǒ lǎopo gāng shēng wán háizi.My wife just finished giving birth to our baby.
  • 你 刚刚 下班 吗？Nǐ gānggāng xiàbān ma? Did you just get off work?

"Just" Within 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 to specify just when the event "just" occurred, specifically.

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

  • 我 刚 认识 她 十 天。Wǒ gāng rènshi tā shí tiān.I just met her ten days ago.
  • 他 刚 来 中国 两 个 月。Tā gāng lái Zhōngguó liǎng gè yuè.He just got to China two months ago.
  • 我 弟弟 刚 工作 半年。Wǒ dìdi gāng gōngzuò bàn nián .My younger brother just started working half a year ago.
  • 她 刚 结婚 三 个 月 。 Tā gāng jiéhūn sān gè yuè.She just got married three months ago.
  • 我 的 车 刚 买 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

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