Difference between revisions of "Expressing "just" with "gang""
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| − | *我 <em>刚</em> 认识 她 <strong> 十 天</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>gāng</em> rènshi tā <strong>shí tiān</strong>. </span> <span class="trans"> | + | *我 <em>刚</em> 认识 她 <strong> 十 天</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>gāng</em> rènshi tā <strong>shí tiān</strong>. </span> <span class="trans">I just met her 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 gè 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 gè 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> bàn nián </strong>.</span> <span class="trans">My younger brother just started working half a year ago.</span> | *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> | ||
Revision as of 23:32, 28 February 2017
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Keywords
For events that happened 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, "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 刚刚 到 办公室。 The boss just arrived at the office.
- 我 老婆 刚 生 完 孩子。 My wife just finished giving birth to our baby.
- 你 刚刚 下班 吗？ Did you just get off work?
"Just" Happened with a Specific Time Period
This more complicated use of 刚 (gāng) is not nearly as essential as the one above, but you may find it useful
Structure
刚 (gāng) can also express "from the time an action happens until the present time."
Subj. + 刚 + Verb (+ Obj.) + 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 刚 认识 她 十 天。 I just met her 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.
- 我 的 车 刚 买 两 天，开 的时候 小心 点。 I just bought the car two days ago. Be careful when you drive.
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
