Expressing "just now" with "gangcai"
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
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.
刚才 + Verb
Examples
- 不好意思，我 刚才 出去 了。I'm sorry, I just now stepped out.
- 刚才 下雨 了，现在 不 下 了。It was just now raining, now it's not.
- 她 刚才 笑 了。She just now laughed.
- 刚才 我 不 在 这里。I was just now not here.
- 你 刚才 去 哪儿 了？Where did you just go?
- 刚才 我 看到 了 我 的 前 女友。I just now saw my former girlfriend.
- 我 刚才 想 吃 冰淇淋，现在 不 想 吃 了。I just now wanted to eat ice cream, now I don't want to eat it.
- 我 刚才 听到 了 一 件 有意思 的 事。I just now heard an interesting thing.
- 刚才 我 在 跟 他 说话。I just now talked to him.
- 刚才 一 个 女孩儿 来 这里 找 你。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
