Expressing "just now" with "gangcai"

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。Just now I am not there.
• 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 wanted to eat ice cream, not 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 not a girl came here to look 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