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?
  • 刚才 了?Gāngcái shéi lái le? Who came just now?
  • 刚才 哪儿 了?Gāngcái nǎr le? Where did you go just now?
  • 刚才 洗手间 了。Gāngcái xǐshǒujiān le. I just went to the washroom.
  • 老板 刚才 生气 了。Lǎobǎn gāngcái shēngqì le. The boss just got angry.
  • 你们 刚才 什么?Nǐmen gāngcái zài kàn shénme? What were you looking at just now?
  • 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 le. The baby just cried.
  • 他们 刚才开会 了。Tāmen gāngcáikāihuì le. They just went to a meeting.
  • 刚才 有 人 你。Gāngcái yǒu rén zhǎo nǐ. Just now, there was someone looking for you.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books