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.
or
Examples
- 我们 刚 知道。Wǒmen gāng
zhīdào.We just found out.
- 她们 刚 走。Tāmen gāng
zǒu.They just left.
- 老板 刚刚 到 办公室。 Lǎobǎn
gānggāng dào bàngōngshì.The
boss just arrived at the office.
- 我 老婆 刚 生 完 孩子。Wǒ lǎopo
gāng shēng wán háizi.My wife
just finished giving birth to our baby.
- 你 刚刚 下班 吗？Nǐ gānggāng
xiàbān ma? Did you just get off
work?
"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."
Subj. + 刚 + Verb (+ Obj.) + 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 刚 认识 她 十 天。Wǒ
gāng rènshi tā shí
tiān.I just met her ten days
ago.
- 他 刚 来 中国 两 个 月。Tā gāng lái Zhōngguó liǎng gè
yuè.He just got to China two
months ago.
- 我 弟弟 刚 工作 半年。Wǒ
dìdi gāng gōngzuò bàn nián
.My younger brother just started working
half a year ago.
- 她 刚 结婚 三 个 月 。 Tā gāng jiéhūn sān gè
yuè.She just got married three
months ago.
- 我 的 车 刚 买 两 天，开 的时候 小心 点。Wǒ de chē gāng mǎi liǎng tiān,
kāi de shíhou xiǎoxīn diǎn.I just bought
the car two days ago. Be careful when you drive.
See also
Sources and further
reading
Books
Category:A2 grammar points