Expressing "just" with "gang"

Revision as of 09:45, 25 October 2013 by Mixue (talk | contribs) (→‎Examples)

Sometimes things happen in a flash, or they happen a very short time before you say something, and to express that, you can use 刚 (gāng).

表示动作刚刚发生

Structure

刚 expresses that the action happened not long ago. It's used the same way as 刚刚.

Subject + 刚 + V.

Examples

  • 走。He just left.
  • 我们 下班。We just got off work.
  • 宝宝 起床。The baby just got out of bed.
  • 老公 回家。The husband just came home.
  • 吃 完 饭。We just ate a meal.
  • 做 完 今天 的 工作。I just finished today's work.
  • 我们 开 完 会。We just started partying.
  • 来 我们 公司。He just came to our office.
  • 找 到 工作。I just found work.
  • 买 了 件 新 衣服。I just bought new clothes.

表示动作从发生到现在的时间较短

Structure

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

Subject + 刚 + VO + Duration

Examples

  • 到 这里 五 分钟。I just got here five minutes ago.
  • 来 中国 半 年。I just got to China six months ago.
  • 学 中文 两 个 星期。I just started studying Chinese two weeks ago.
  • 走十分钟。
  • 我们 认识 一 个 月。
  • 工作 半 年。
  • 小心 点,这 个 电脑 买 两 天。
  • 我 也 知道 几 分钟。
  • 结婚 一 年 就 离婚?
  • 去 美国 一 个 星期 就 想 回来。

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 happened a short while ago.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books