Difference between revisions of "Comparing "gang" and "gangcai""

 
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{{Grammar Box}}
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{{Grammar Box}}  
  
刚 (gāng) and 刚才 (gāngcái) are similar, but they have somewhat different uses.
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刚 (gāng) and 刚才 (gāngcái) have similar meanings of "[[just]] (now)," but they differ on a few key uses.
  
== Both Come Before the Verb, But Have Different Emphasis ==
+
== 刚 as "Just Happened" ==
  
=== 刚 emphasizes something "just" happened ===
+
is actually an [[adverb]], and it is placed in front of the verb. It emphasizes that the action ''just'' happened a short time ago. Unsurprisingly, it is similar to the English "just." 刚刚 and 刚 are interchangeable in this case.
  
"" is actually an adverb, and it is placed in front of the verb. It emphasizes that the action ''just'' happened a short time ago. It is similar to the English "just."
+
The key here is that "a short time ago" is relative and determined by the speaker. For this reason, 刚 can indicate that something "just" happened 1 second ago, 5 minutes ago, 2 hours ago, 3 weeks ago, or even a year ago. The absolute time is flexible, but from the speaker's perspective, it ''feels'' recent.
  
The key here is that "a short time ago is relative, and determined by the speaker.  For this reason, can indicate that something "just" happened 1 second ago, 5 minutes ago, 2 hours ago, 3 weeks ago, or even a year ago.  The absolute time is flexible, but from the speaker's perspective, it ''feels'' recent.
+
=== Before a Verb ===
  
==== Structure ====
+
One thing that confuses a lot of learners is that when you use 刚 with a verb, ''you normally don't need 了''. Keep that in mind while reading the following examples, and look for the explanation below.
  
<div class="jiegou">
+
A few examples:
+ Verb
+
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
<ul>
 +
<li class="o">他 <em>刚</em> 到 。<span class="expl">This gives the impression that not only did he just get here, but he should still be here.</span><span class="pinyin">Tā <em>gāng</em> dào.</span><span class="trans">He just arrived.</span>
 +
<li class="o">我们 昨天 <em>刚</em> 到 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen zuótiān <em>gāng</em> dào.</span><span class="trans">We just arrived yesterday.</span>
 +
<li class="o">真 不巧 ,老板 <em>刚</em> 走 。<span class="pinyin">Zhēn bùqiǎo, lǎobǎn <em>gāng</em> zǒu.</span><span class="trans">What bad timing. The boss just left.</span>
 +
</ul>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
It would be wrong to use 刚才 instead:
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
<ul>
 +
<li class="x">他 <em>刚才</em> 到 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>gāngcái</em> dào.</span></li>
 +
<li class="x">我们 昨天 <em>刚才</em> 到 。<span class="expl">刚才 should be used for events a lot closer in time than 昨天.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen zuótiān <em>gāngcái</em> dào.</span></li>
 +
<li class="x">真 不巧 ,老板 <em>刚才</em> 走 。<span class="pinyin">Zhēn bùqiǎo, lǎobǎn <em>gāngcái</em> zǒu.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
And if you mean to say "when I first arrived in Shanghai," use 刚 instead of 刚才:
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
*我 <em></em> 到 上海 的 时候 ,谁 都 不 认识 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>gāng</em> dào Shànghǎi de shíhou, shéi dōu bù rènshi.</span><span class="trans">I didn't know anyone when I had just arrived in Shanghai.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==== Examples ====
+
=== 刚 or 刚刚 Before an Adjective ===
 +
 
 +
刚, as an adverb, can also be placed in front of an adjective, while 刚才 can't be used this way. 刚 can also be used interchangeably with 刚刚.
 +
 
 +
A few examples:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 他 <em></em> 来。<span class="trans">He just came.</span>
+
 
* 我 昨天 <em>刚</em> 看到 他。<span class="trans">I just saw him yesterday.</span>
+
*他 的 感冒 <em>刚刚</em> 好 。<span class="pinyin">Tā de gǎnmào <em>gānggāng</em> hǎo.</span><span class="trans">He just recovered from his cold.</span>
* 我 <em></em> 说过,不 想 再 说 一 遍。<span class="trans">I just said it, and I don't want to say it again.</span>
+
*<em>刚</em> 晴 。<span class="pinyin">Tiān <em>gāng</em> qíng.</span><span class="trans">The sky just became clear.</span>
* 我们 去年 <em>刚</em> 去 过 美国 。 <span class="trans">We've just been to the States last year.</span>
+
*牛肉 <em>刚</em> <span class="pinyin">Niúròu <em>gāng</em> shú.</span><span class="trans">The beef just got cooked.</span>
 +
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
=== 刚才 emphasizes "just now" ===
+
== 刚才 as "Just Now" ==
 +
 
 +
刚才 is a [[time noun]] (like 今天 and 现在), and it expresses that the time elapsed is really short, in near-absolute terms.  We're talking no more than 1-30 minutes in most situations, and often less than 5 minutes. When used before a verb, 刚才 emphasizes something happened "''just now''."
 +
 
 +
A few examples:
  
刚才 is a [[time noun]] (like 今天 and 现在), and it expresses that the time that has passed is really short, in near-absolute terms.  We're talking no more than 1-30 minutes, in most situations. If it is placed before the verb, it emphasizes what happened in the time that has just passed. It is similar to the English "'''just now'''."
+
<div class="liju">
  
==== Structure ====
+
*他 <em>刚才</em> 哭 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="expl">He was crying a moment ago but he stopped.</span><span class="pinyin">Tā <em>gāngcái</em> kū <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">He was crying just now.</span>
 +
*我 <em>刚才</em> 看到 他 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="expl">Sounds like he's not here anymore; I just saw him, but don't see him now.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>gāngcái</em> kàndào tā <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I just now saw him.</span>
 +
*现在 我 感觉 比 <em>刚才</em> 好 一点 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Xiànzài wǒ gǎnjué bǐ <em>gāngcái</em> hǎo yīdiǎn <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I feel a little better now than just before.</span>
  
<div class="jiegou">
 
刚才 + Verb
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==== Examples ====
+
刚才, as a time noun, can directly modify a noun to indicate it is that one from "just now" or "just before," while 刚 can't be used this way.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 他 <em>刚才</em> 来 了。<span class="expl">(In this case, he's come and gone already. He's not here anymore.)</span><span class="trans">He came just now.</span>
+
 
* 我 <em>刚才</em> 看到 他 了。<span class="expl">(Sounds like he's not here anymore; I just saw him, but don't see him now.)</span><span class="trans">I just now saw him.</span>
+
<ul>
* 我 <em>刚才</em> 看 过 了,不 想 再 看 一 遍。<span class="trans">I saw it just now, and I don't want to see it again.</span>
+
<li class="x"><em></em> <strong>的 事情</strong> 太 让 人 生气 了 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Gāng</em> <strong>de shìqing</strong> tài ràng rén shēngqì le.</span><span class="trans">What just happened is really upsetting.</span></li>
* 我 觉得 现在 比 <em>刚才</em> 亮。<span class="expl">(Here it's very clearly acting as a time noun.)</span><span class="trans">I think it's brighter now that just before.</span>
+
<li class="o"><em>刚才</em> <strong>的 事情</strong> 太 让 人 生气 了 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Gāngcái</em> <strong>de shìqing</strong> tài ràng rén shēngqì le.</span><span class="trans">What just happened is really upsetting.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 +
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== 刚才 can be used as an attribute while 刚 cannot==
+
== 刚 and 刚才 with 了 ==
  
刚才 can also directly modify a noun to indicate it is that one from "just now" or "just before."
+
You may have noticed that something interesting is going on with regards to [[了]] in the sentences with 刚 and 刚才. Namely, 了 is not usually required in sentences with 刚, but it is usually required in sentences with 刚才. This is because 刚才 refers to a time in the ''recent past'', and you're usually indicated that something ''happened just now'' (started and finished).
  
=== Structure ===
+
Take these sentences for example:
  
<div class="jiegou">
+
<div class="liju">
刚才 + 的 + Noun
+
*我 昨天 看 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zuótiān kàn le.</span><span class="trans">I looked at it yesterday.</span>
 +
*我 <em>刚才</em> 看 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ gāngcái kàn le.</span><span class="trans">I looked at it just now.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
=== Examples ===
+
So these are both simple "subject + verb" sentences. Notice that when they refer to the ''past'' (including the one with 刚才), the action is completed and you need 了. You don't need 了 for things that haven't happened yet (they're just plans, and nothing is completed). And remember that 刚才 ''always refers to the past.''
 +
 
 +
OK, now what about 刚? ''Why does it not need 了?'' The key is that you don't need a 了 in a sentence with 刚 if the verb ''already indicates a clear result''. So, to use the 看 example from above:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 +
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li class="o"><em>刚才</em> <strong>的 事情</strong> 太 让 人 生气 了。<span class="trans">What just happened really made people angry.</span></li>
+
<li class="o"><em>刚</em> <strong>看到</strong> 。<span class="expl">Adding a 到 to 看 gives the verb a meaning of the result of "looking at."</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>gāng</em> <strong>kàndào</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I just saw it.</span></li>
<li class="x"><em>刚</em> <strong>的 事情</strong> 太 让 人 生气 了。<span class="trans">Just thing really makes people angry.</span></li>
+
<li class="x"><em>刚</em> 看到 <strong></strong> 。<span class="expl">了 is not needed here as 看到 includes the result of "looking at."</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>gāng</em> kàndào <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I just saw it.</span></li>
 +
<li class="o">我 <em>刚才</em> 看到 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="expl">了 is needed with 刚才 because it feels so recent and unresolved.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>gāngcái</em> kàndào <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I saw it just now.</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 +
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== 刚 can be used as "Just"  while 刚才 cannot==
+
A few more examples:
  
刚 is an adverb, and it can also spruce up an adjective. It has the same meaning as 刚刚. (刚才 cannot do this.)
+
<div class="liju">
  
=== Structure ===
+
<ul>
 +
<li class="o">我 <em>刚</em> <strong>到</strong> 。<span class="expl">The verb 到 includes a clear result.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>gāng</em> <strong>dào</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I just arrived.</span></li>
 +
<li class="o">你 <em>刚</em> <strong>知道</strong> 吗 ?<span class="expl">The verb 知道 always includes the result of "knowing."</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>gāng</em>
 +
<strong>zhīdào</strong> ma?</span><span class="trans">You just found out?</span></li>
 +
<li class="o">宝宝 <em>刚</em> <strong>醒</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Bǎobao <em>gāng</em> <strong>xǐng</strong>.</span><span class="expl">The verb 醒 includes a clear enough indication of result.</span><span class="trans">The baby just woke up.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
  
<div class="jiegou">
 
刚 + Adjective
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
=== Examples ===
+
== 刚 and 刚才 with 没 ==
 +
 
 +
There's also something going on with [[没]] in sentences with 刚 and 刚才. The deal here is that you can say something ''didn't happen '''just now''''' (刚才), but you can't say that something '''''just''' didn't happen'' (刚). [Saying that something "just didn't happen" only works in English if you interpret "just" to mean "simply."]
 +
 
 +
The takeaway? Just don't use 刚 in sentences where you use 没 to negate the past.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*天 <em>刚</em> 晴。<span class="trans">The sky just became clear.</span>
+
 
*一 个 面包 <em>刚</em> 够 吃,多 一 个 更 好。<span class="trans">One pice of bread is just enough, one more is even better.</span>
+
<ul>
 +
<li class="x">我 <em>刚</em> <strong>没</strong> 看到 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>gāng</em> <strong>méi</strong> kàndào.</span><span class="expl">Don't use 刚 with 没 in the past.</span><span class="trans">I just didn't see it.</span></li>
 +
<li class="x">我 <em>刚</em> <strong>没</strong> 听懂 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>gāng</em> <strong>méi</strong> tīngdǒng.</span><span class="trans">I didn't understand just now.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 +
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Examples of right and wrong sentences==
+
Use 没 with 刚才 (and no 了) to negate the past.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 +
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li class="x">我 <em>刚才</em> 回家。</li>
+
<li class="o">我 <em>刚才</em> <strong>没</strong> 看到 。<span class="pinyin"><em>gāngcái</em> <strong>méi</strong> kàndào.</span><span class="trans">I didn't see it just now.</span></li>
<li class="o"><em></em> 回家。<span class="trans">I just got home.</span></li>
+
<li class="o">我 <em>刚才</em> <strong>没</strong> 听懂 。<span class="pinyin"><em>gāngcái</em> <strong>méi</strong> tīngdǒng.</span><span class="trans">I didn't understand just now.</span></li>
<li class="o">我 <em>刚才</em> 没 想好 吃 什么,现在 我 想好 了。<span class="trans">Just a while ago, I didn't think up what to eat, now I just thought it up.</span></li>
 
<li class="x">我 <em>刚</em> 没 想好 吃 什么,现在 我 想好 了。</li>
 
<li class="o">他 <em>刚才</em> 没 听懂我的话。</li>
 
<li class="x">他 <em>刚</em> 没 听懂我的话。</li>
 
<li class="o">我 也 是 <em></em> 听说 这 个 消息。</li>
 
<li class="o">我 <em>刚才</em> 听说 了 这 个 消息。</li>
 
<li class="x">昨天 他 <em>刚才</em> 来 过。</li>
 
<li class="o">昨天 他 <em>刚</em> 来 过。</li>
 
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 +
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Example dialog ==
+
== Example Dialog ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* A: 你 <em>刚才</em> 去 哪儿 了?<span class="trans">Where did you go just now?</span>
+
 
* B: 我 <em>刚</em> 上 完 厕所。<span class="trans">I just got done in the bathroom.</span>
+
<ul class="dialog">
* A: 那 你 不 知道 <em>刚才</em> 的 事情 吧?<span class="trans">Then you don't know what just now happened?</span>
+
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 <em>刚才</em> 去 哪儿 了 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>gāngcái</em> qù nǎr le?</span><span class="trans">Where did you go just now?</span></li>
* B: 是 不 是 有人 吵架 了?<span class="trans">Did some people start arguing?</span>
+
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 去 上 厕所 了 。<em>刚</em> 回来 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ qù shàng cèsuǒ le. <em>Gāng</em> huílái.</span><span class="trans">I went to the bathroom. I just got back.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 +
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Line 116: Line 166:
 
=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
*[[现代汉语八百词(增订本)]] (刚 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]
+
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 3|50}}
*[[现代汉语八百词(增订本)]] (刚才 p.217) [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]
+
{{Source|现代汉语八百词(增订本)|216}}
*[[对外汉语教学语法释疑201例]] (p.28) [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]
+
{{Source|现代汉语虚词例释|190}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 40- 2) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
+
{{Source|现代汉语八百词(增订本)|217}}
*[[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]
+
{{Source|对外汉语教学语法释疑201例|28}}
 +
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)|40- 2}}
 +
{{Source|卓越汉语-公司实战篇|239}}
  
 
=== Dictionaries ===
 
=== Dictionaries ===
* [[现代汉语词典(第5版)]] (p.446) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/dp/B001B1RZCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693609&sr=8-1 →buy]
+
 
 +
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 4上|6}}
 +
{{Source|现代汉语词典(第5版)|446}}
  
 
[[Category:grammar comparison]]
 
[[Category:grammar comparison]]
{{Basic Grammar|刚|B1|刚 vs 刚才|你 <em>刚才</em> 去 哪儿 了?我  <em>刚</em> 上 完 厕所。|grammar point|ASGJFFWG}}
+
{{HSK|HSK3}}
 +
{{HSK|HSK4}}
 +
{{Basic Grammar|刚|B1|刚 vs. 刚才|你 <em>刚才</em> 去 哪儿 了?我  <em>刚</em> 回来 。|grammar point|ASGJFFWG}}
 
{{Rel char|刚才}}
 
{{Rel char|刚才}}
 
{{Similar|"Just now" with "gangcai"}}
 
{{Similar|"Just now" with "gangcai"}}
Line 133: Line 189:
 
{{Used for|Expressing time and date}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing time and date}}
 
{{Translation|just}}
 
{{Translation|just}}
{{Comparison|Time Words}}
+
{{Translation|just now}}
 +
{{Comparison|Adverbs}}

Latest revision as of 00:21, 14 April 2023

刚 (gāng) and 刚才 (gāngcái) have similar meanings of "just (now)," but they differ on a few key uses.

刚 as "Just Happened"

刚 is actually an adverb, and it is placed in front of the verb. It emphasizes that the action just happened a short time ago. Unsurprisingly, it is similar to the English "just." 刚刚 and 刚 are interchangeable in this case.

The key here is that "a short time ago" is relative and determined by the speaker. For this reason, 刚 can indicate that something "just" happened 1 second ago, 5 minutes ago, 2 hours ago, 3 weeks ago, or even a year ago. The absolute time is flexible, but from the speaker's perspective, it feels recent.

刚 Before a Verb

One thing that confuses a lot of learners is that when you use 刚 with a verb, you normally don't need 了. Keep that in mind while reading the following examples, and look for the explanation below.

A few examples:

  • 到 。This gives the impression that not only did he just get here, but he should still be here.gāng dào.He just arrived.
  • 我们 昨天 到 。Wǒmen zuótiān gāng dào.We just arrived yesterday.
  • 真 不巧 ,老板 走 。Zhēn bùqiǎo, lǎobǎn gāng zǒu.What bad timing. The boss just left.

It would be wrong to use 刚才 instead:

  • 刚才 到 。gāngcái dào.
  • 我们 昨天 刚才 到 。刚才 should be used for events a lot closer in time than 昨天.Wǒmen zuótiān gāngcái dào.
  • 真 不巧 ,老板 刚才 走 。Zhēn bùqiǎo, lǎobǎn gāngcái zǒu.

And if you mean to say "when I first arrived in Shanghai," use 刚 instead of 刚才:

  • 到 上海 的 时候 ,谁 都 不 认识 。gāng dào Shànghǎi de shíhou, shéi dōu bù rènshi.I didn't know anyone when I had just arrived in Shanghai.

刚 or 刚刚 Before an Adjective

刚, as an adverb, can also be placed in front of an adjective, while 刚才 can't be used this way. 刚 can also be used interchangeably with 刚刚.

A few examples:

  • 他 的 感冒 刚刚 好 。Tā de gǎnmào gānggāng hǎo.He just recovered from his cold.
  • 晴 。Tiān gāng qíng.The sky just became clear.
  • 牛肉 熟 。 Niúròu gāng shú.The beef just got cooked.

刚才 as "Just Now"

刚才 is a time noun (like 今天 and 现在), and it expresses that the time elapsed is really short, in near-absolute terms. We're talking no more than 1-30 minutes in most situations, and often less than 5 minutes. When used before a verb, 刚才 emphasizes something happened "just now."

A few examples:

  • 刚才He was crying a moment ago but he stopped.gāngcáile.He was crying just now.
  • 刚才 看到 他 Sounds like he's not here anymore; I just saw him, but don't see him now.gāngcái kàndào tā le.I just now saw him.
  • 现在 我 感觉 比 刚才 好 一点 Xiànzài wǒ gǎnjué bǐ gāngcái hǎo yīdiǎn le.I feel a little better now than just before.

刚才, as a time noun, can directly modify a noun to indicate it is that one from "just now" or "just before," while 刚 can't be used this way.

  • 的 事情 太 让 人 生气 了 。Gāng de shìqing tài ràng rén shēngqì le.What just happened is really upsetting.
  • 刚才 的 事情 太 让 人 生气 了 。Gāngcái de shìqing tài ràng rén shēngqì le.What just happened is really upsetting.

刚 and 刚才 with 了

You may have noticed that something interesting is going on with regards to in the sentences with 刚 and 刚才. Namely, 了 is not usually required in sentences with 刚, but it is usually required in sentences with 刚才. This is because 刚才 refers to a time in the recent past, and you're usually indicated that something happened just now (started and finished).

Take these sentences for example:

  • 我 昨天 看 了 。Wǒ zuótiān kàn le.I looked at it yesterday.
  • 刚才 看 了 。Wǒ gāngcái kàn le.I looked at it just now.

So these are both simple "subject + verb" sentences. Notice that when they refer to the past (including the one with 刚才), the action is completed and you need 了. You don't need 了 for things that haven't happened yet (they're just plans, and nothing is completed). And remember that 刚才 always refers to the past.

OK, now what about 刚? Why does it not need 了? The key is that you don't need a 了 in a sentence with 刚 if the verb already indicates a clear result. So, to use the 看 example from above:

  • 看到Adding a 到 to 看 gives the verb a meaning of the result of "looking at."gāng kàndào.I just saw it.
  • 看到 了 is not needed here as 看到 includes the result of "looking at."gāng kàndào le.I just saw it.
  • 刚才 看到 了 is needed with 刚才 because it feels so recent and unresolved.gāngcái kàndào le.I saw it just now.

A few more examples:

  • The verb 到 includes a clear result.gāng dào.I just arrived.
  • 知道 吗 ?The verb 知道 always includes the result of "knowing."gāng zhīdào ma?You just found out?
  • 宝宝 Bǎobao gāng xǐng.The verb 醒 includes a clear enough indication of result.The baby just woke up.

刚 and 刚才 with 没

There's also something going on with in sentences with 刚 and 刚才. The deal here is that you can say something didn't happen just now (刚才), but you can't say that something just didn't happen (刚). [Saying that something "just didn't happen" only works in English if you interpret "just" to mean "simply."]

The takeaway? Just don't use 刚 in sentences where you use 没 to negate the past.

  • 看到 。gāng méi kàndào.Don't use 刚 with 没 in the past.I just didn't see it.
  • 听懂 。gāng méi tīngdǒng.I didn't understand just now.

Use 没 with 刚才 (and no 了) to negate the past.

  • 刚才 看到 。gāngcái méi kàndào.I didn't see it just now.
  • 刚才 听懂 。gāngcái méi tīngdǒng.I didn't understand just now.

Example Dialog

  • A:刚才 去 哪儿 了 ?gāngcái qù nǎr le?Where did you go just now?
  • B: 我 去 上 厕所 了 。 回来 。Wǒ qù shàng cèsuǒ le. Gāng huílái.I went to the bathroom. I just got back.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries