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<h1>Expressing "just now" with "<span class="pinyinst">gāngcái</span>" "<span class="hanzist">刚才</span>"</h1>
<p>In order to say that something "just now" occurred, use the <a href="Time_noun" title="wikilink">time noun</a> <span class="hanzi">刚才</span> (<span class="pinyin">gāngcái</span>). It can be placed in front of the verb or the subject of a statement.</p>
<h2 id="structure">Structure</h2>
<p>This grammar structure is pretty straightforward. Similar to the English "<b>just now</b>," you can put <span class="hanzi">刚才</span> (<span class="pinyin">gāngcái</span>) right before the verb in a sentence. It can also come before or after the subject.</p>
<div class="deux">
<p><span class="hanzist">刚才</span> + Verb</p>
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<h2 id="examples">Examples</h2>
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<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">你 <span class="fondjaune">刚才</span> <span class="fondvert">说</span> 什么 了？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <span class="fondjaune">gāngcái</span> <span class="fondvert">shuō</span> shénme le?</span><br/> What did you just say?</li>
<li><span class="hanzi"><span class="fondjaune">刚才</span> 谁 <span class="fondvert">来</span> 了？</span><br/><span class="pinyin"><span class="fondjaune">Gāngcái</span> shéi <span class="fondvert">lái</span> le?</span><br/> Who came just now?</li>
<li><span class="hanzi"><span class="fondjaune">刚才</span> 你 <span class="fondvert">去</span> 哪儿 了？</span><br/><span class="pinyin"><span class="fondjaune">Gāngcái</span> nǐ <span class="fondvert">qù</span> nǎr le?</span> <br/>Where did you go just now?</li>
<li><span class="hanzi"><span class="fondjaune">刚才</span> 我 <span class="fondvert">去</span> 洗手间 了。</span><br/><span class="pinyin"><span class="fondjaune">Gāngcái</span> wǒ <span class="fondvert">qù</span> xǐshǒujiān le.</span> <br/>I just went to the restroom.</li>
<li><span class="hanzi">老板 <span class="fondjaune">刚才</span> <span class="fondvert">生气</span> 了。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <span class="fondjaune">gāngcái</span> <span class="fondvert">shēngqì</span> le.</span><br/> The boss just got angry.</li>
<li><span class="hanzi">你们 <span class="fondjaune">刚才</span> 在 <span class="fondvert">看</span> 什么？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <span class="fondjaune">gāngcái</span> zài <span class="fondvert">kàn</span> shénme?</span> <br/>What were you looking at just now?</li>
<li><span class="hanzi">不好意思，我 <span class="fondjaune">刚才</span> <span class="fondvert">出去</span> 了。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ <span class="fondjaune">gāngcái</span> <span class="fondvert">chūqù</span> le.</span><br/> I'm sorry, I just now stepped out.</li>
<li><span class="hanzi">宝宝 <span class="fondjaune">刚才</span> <span class="fondvert">哭</span> 了。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Bǎobao <span class="fondjaune">gāngcái</span> <span class="fondvert">kū</span> le.</span> <br/>The baby just cried.</li>
<li><span class="hanzi">他们 <span class="fondjaune">刚才</span> 去 <span class="fondvert">开会</span> 了。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Tāmen <span class="fondjaune">gāngcái</span> qù <span class="fondvert">kāihuì</span> le.</span> <br/>They just went to a meeting.</li>
<li><span class="hanzi"><span class="fondjaune">刚才</span> 有 人 <span class="fondvert">找</span> 你。</span><br/><span class="pinyin"><span class="fondjaune">Gāngcái</span> yǒu rén <span class="fondvert">zhǎo</span> nǐ.</span> <br/>Just now, there was someone looking for you.</li>
</ul>
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<p>Note that for all of those cases, we're talking about something that happened just now, as in, within the past 5 minutes or so. If you're talking about something that "<b>just happened" yesterday or last week</b>, don't use <span class="hanzi">刚才</span> (<span class="pinyin">gāngcái</span>), use <a href="Expressing_"just"_with_"gang"" title="wikilink">刚 (gāng)</a>.</p>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="Comparing_"gang"_and_"gangcai"" title="wikilink">Comparing "gang" and "gangcai"</a></li>
<li><a href="Explaining_results_with_"suoyi"" title="wikilink">Explaining results with "suoyi"</a></li>
<li><a href="Cause_and_effect_with_"yinwei"_and_"suoyi"" title="wikilink">Cause and effect with "yinwei" and "suoyi"</a></li>
<li><a href="Stating_the_effect_before_the_cause" title="wikilink">Stating the effect before the cause</a> (advanced article)</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2>
<h3 id="books">Books</h3>
<ul>
<li><span class="hanzi">现代汉语八百词（增订本）</span> (p. 217)</li>
</ul>
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