Expressing "just" with "gang"

When something recently happened, or 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, "Ugh, I was just there!" or "I just passed it!" In Chinese, "just" can be expressed with 刚 (gāng) or 刚刚 (gānggāng).

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 知道。 Wǒmen gāng zhīdao. We just found out.
  • 她们 走。Tāmen gāng zǒu. They just left.
  • 老板 出去。 Lǎobǎn gāng chūqù. The boss just went out.
  • 妈妈 到 家。 Māma gāng dào jiā. Mom just got home.
  • 吃 完 饭。gāng chī wán fàn. I just finished eating.

"Just" happened, with a specific time period

Structure

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

Subj. + 刚 + VO + 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

  • 我们 认识 十 天Wǒmen gāng rènshi shí tiān. We just met each other ten days ago.
  • 来 中国 两 个 月gāng lái Zhōngguó liǎng ge yuè. He just got to China two months ago.
  • 我 弟弟 工作 半年Wǒ dìdi gāng gōngzuò bàn nián . My younger brother just started working half a year ago.
  • 结婚 三 个 月 gāng jiéhūn sān ge yuè. She just got married three months ago.
  • 小心 点 , 我 的 电脑 两 天Xiǎoxīn, zhè ge diànnǎo gāng mǎi liǎng tiān. Be careful, I just bought that computer two days ago.


See also

Sources and further reading

Books