Expressing "just now" with "gangcai"

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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. It can also come before the subject or after the subject.

刚才 + Verb

Examples

  • 刚才 什么 了 ? gāngcái shuō shénme le? What did you just say?
  • 你们 刚才 什么 了 ? Nǐmen gāngcái zuò shénme le? What are you doing right now?
  • 刚才 了 一 瓶 可乐 。 gāngcái le yī píng kělè. He just drank a bottle of Coke.
  • 不好意思 , 我 刚才 出去 了 。 Bùhǎoyìsi, wǒ gāngcái chūqù le. I'm sorry, I just now stepped out.
  • 宝宝 刚才 了 。 Bǎobǎo gāngcái xiào le. The baby just now laughed.
  • 刚才 哪儿 了 ? Gāngcái nǎr le? Just now where did you go?
  • 刚才 了 一个 冰淇淋 。 Gāngcái chī le yīgè bīngqílín. Just now I ate an ice cream.
  • 刚才 洗手间 了 。 Gāngcái xǐshǒujiān le. Just now I went to the washroom.
  • 刚才开会 了 。 Gāngcáikāihuì le. I have a meeting right now.
  • 刚才 一 个 女孩儿 这里 找 你 了 。 Gāngcái yī gè nǚháir lái zhèlǐ zhǎo nǐ le. Just now a girl came here looking for you.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books