Difference between revisions of "Expressing "just" with "gang""
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* 我们 <em>刚</em> 认识 <strong>十 天</strong> 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>gāng</em> rènshi <strong> shí tiān</strong>.</span> <span class="trans">We just met each other ten days ago.</span> | * 我们 <em>刚</em> 认识 <strong>十 天</strong> 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>gāng</em> rènshi <strong> shí tiān</strong>.</span> <span class="trans">We just met each other 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 ge yuè</strong>.</span> <span class="trans">He just got to China two months 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 ge 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> | + | * 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 ge yuè</strong>.</span> <span class="trans">She just got married three months ago.</span> | * 她 <em>刚</em> 结婚 <strong> 三 个 月 </strong> 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>gāng</em> jiéhūn <strong>sān ge yuè</strong>.</span> <span class="trans">She just got married three months ago.</span> | ||
* 小心 点 ， 我 的 电脑 <em>刚</em> 买 <strong>两 天</strong> 。 <span class="pinyin">Xiǎoxīn, zhè ge diànnǎo <em>gāng</em> mǎi <strong>liǎng tiān</strong>.</span> <span class="trans">Be careful, I just bought that computer two days ago.</span> | * 小心 点 ， 我 的 电脑 <em>刚</em> 买 <strong>两 天</strong> 。 <span class="pinyin">Xiǎoxīn, zhè ge diànnǎo <em>gāng</em> mǎi <strong>liǎng tiān</strong>.</span> <span class="trans">Be careful, I just bought that computer two days ago.</span> | ||
Revision as of 06:33, 22 September 2015
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Keywords
When something recently happened, or 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, "Ugh, I was just there!" or "I just passed it!" In Chinese, "just" can be expressed with 刚 (gāng) or 刚刚 (gānggāng).
Contents
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。 We just found out.
- 她们 刚 走。 They just left.
- 老板 刚 出去。 The boss just went out.
- 妈妈 刚 到 家。 Mom just got home.
- 我 刚 吃 完 饭。 I just finished eating.
"Just" happened, with a specific time period
Structure
刚 (gāng) can also express "from the time an action happens until the present time".
Subj. + 刚 + VO + 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
- 我们 刚 认识 十 天 。 We just met each other ten days ago.
- 他 刚 来 中国 两 个 月 。 He just got to China two months ago.
- 我 弟弟 刚 工作 半年 。 My younger brother just started working half a year ago.
- 她 刚 结婚 三 个 月 。 She just got married three months ago.
- 小心 点 ， 我 的 电脑 刚 买 两 天 。 Be careful, I just bought that computer two days ago.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (p. 216)→buy
- 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (p. 239) →buy
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (p. 81) →buy
