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 can put 刚才 (gāngcái) right before the verb in a sentence. 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 did you guys just do?
  • 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 yī gè 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 just 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