For events that happened 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, "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.

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 刚 + Verb

</div>
or

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 刚刚 + Verb

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   我们 <em>刚</em> 知道。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>gāng</em>
    zhīdào.</span><span class="trans">We just found out.</span>
-   她们 <em>刚</em> 走。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>gāng</em>
    zǒu.</span><span class="trans">They just left.</span>
-   老板 <em>刚刚</em> 到 办公室。<span class="pinyin"> Lǎobǎn
    <em>gānggāng</em> dào bàngōngshì.</span><span class="trans">The boss
    just arrived at the office.</span>
-   我 老婆 <em>刚</em> 生 完 孩子。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ lǎopo
    <em>gāng</em> shēng wán háizi.</span><span class="trans">My wife
    just finished giving birth to our baby.</span>
-   你 <em>刚刚</em> 下班 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>gānggāng</em>
    xiàbān ma? </span><span class="trans">Did you just get off
    work?</span>

</div>
"Just" Within a Specific Time Period
------------------------------------

This more complicated use of 刚 (gāng) is not nearly as essential as the
one above, but you may find it useful to specify just *when* the event
"just" occurred, specifically.

### Structure

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

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 刚 + Verb (+ Obj.) + Duration

</div>
Note that although we need to say "ago" in English, in this pattern
there's no need for a word that means "ago."

### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   我 <em>刚</em> 认识 她 <strong> 十
    天</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>gāng</em> rènshi tā
    <strong>shí tiān</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I just met her
    ten days ago.</span>
-   他 <em>刚</em> 来 中国 <strong>两 个
    月</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>gāng</em> lái Zhōngguó
    <strong>liǎng gè yuè</strong>.</span><span class="trans">He just got
    to China two months ago.</span>
-   我 弟弟 <em>刚</em> 工作
    <strong>半年</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ dìdi <em>gāng</em>
    gōngzuò <strong> bàn nián </strong>.</span><span class="trans">My
    younger brother just started working half a year ago.</span>
-   她 <em>刚</em> 结婚 <strong> 三 个 月 </strong>。
    <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>gāng</em> jiéhūn <strong>sān gè
    yuè</strong>.</span><span class="trans">She just got married three
    months ago.</span>
-   我 的 车 <em>刚</em> 买 <strong>两 天</strong>，开 的时候 小心
    点。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de chē <em>gāng</em> mǎi <strong>liǎng
    tiān</strong>, kāi de shíhou xiǎoxīn
    diǎn.</span><span class="trans">I just bought the car two days ago.
    Be careful when you drive.</span>

</div>
See also
--------

-   ["Just now" with "gangcai"]("Just_now"_with_"gangcai" "wikilink")
-   [Comparing "gang" and
    "gangcai"](Comparing_"gang"_and_"gangcai" "wikilink")

Sources and further reading
---------------------------

### Books

-   [现代汉语八百词（增订本）](现代汉语八百词（增订本） "wikilink") (p.
    216)[→buy](http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1)
-   [卓越汉语－公司实战篇](卓越汉语－公司实战篇 "wikilink") (p. 239)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD-%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87-%E8%83%A1%E7%81%B5%E5%9D%87/dp/B003QZWQ6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347863170&sr=8-1)
-   [Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second
    Edition](Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition "wikilink") (p.
    81)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615)

[Category:A2 grammar points](Category:A2_grammar_points "wikilink")