Expressing "just" with "gang"

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Sometimes things happen in a flash, or they happen a very short time before you talk about them. In English we use the word "just", and in Chinese we express "just" with 刚 (gāng).

Expressing "just" happened

Structure

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

Subject + 刚 + Verb

Examples

  • 知道。I just found out.
  • 工作。He just started working.
  • 买 了 很 多 水果。I just bought a lot of fruit.
  • 走。He just left.
  • 我们 下班。We just got off work.
  • 宝宝 起床。The baby just woke up.
  • 老公 回 家。The husband just came home.
  • 吃 完 饭。I just finished eating.
  • 做 完 今天 的 工作。I just finished today's work.
  • 来 我们 公司。He just came to our office.

Expressing "from then until now"

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.
  • 十 分钟He just walked five minutes.
  • 我们 认识 一 个 月We just knew each other for a month.
  • 工作 一 年He just worked a year.
  • 小心 点,这 个 电脑 两 天Be careful, I just bought that computer two days ago.
  • 我 也 知道 两 分钟I just found out two minutes ago.
  • 出去He just went out.
  • 去 美国 一 个 星期He just went to America for one week.

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 (arrival) happened just a short while ago.

  • 我 刚 来 到 这 个 公 司。 I just arrived at this company.
  • 他 才 刚 来 没 以 会 儿。 He just arrived not long ago.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books