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  <h1>Expressing "just" with "<span class="pinyinst">gāng</span>" "<span class="hanzist">刚</span>"</h1>

  <p>For events that happened in the immediate past, in English we use the word "<b>just.</b>" For example, if you pass a turn you were supposed to make, you might say, "<b>I just passed it!</b>" In Chinese, "<b>just</b>" can be expressed with <span class="hanzi">刚</span> (<span class="pinyin">gāng</span>) or <span class="hanzi">刚刚</span> (<span class="pinyin">gānggāng</span>).</p>

  <h2 id="expressing-just-happened">Expressing "Just" Happened</h2>

  <h3 id="structure">Structure</h3>

  <p><span class="hanzi">刚</span> (<span class="pinyin">gāng</span>) expresses an action that happened not long ago. <span class="hanzi">刚刚</span> (<span class="pinyin">gānggāng</span>) is used the same way, with the same meaning.</p>

  <div class="deux">
    <p>Subj. + <span class="hanzist">刚</span> + Verb</p>
  </div>

  <p>or</p>

  <div class="deux">
    <p>Subj. + <span class="hanzist">刚刚</span> + Verb</p>
  </div>

  <h3 id="examples">Examples</h3>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">我们 <span class="fondjaune">刚</span> 知道。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <span class="fondjaune">gāng</span> zhīdào.</span> <br/>We just found out.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">她们 <span class="fondjaune">刚</span> 走。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Tāmen <span class="fondjaune">gāng</span> zǒu.</span><br/> They just left.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">老板 <span class="fondjaune">刚刚</span> 到 办公室。</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <span class="fondjaune">gānggāng</span> dào bàngōngshì.</span> <br/>The boss just arrived at the office.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 老婆 <span class="fondjaune">刚</span> 生 完 孩子。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ lǎopo <span class="fondjaune">gāng</span> shēng wán háizi.</span> <br/>My wife just finished giving birth to our baby.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你 <span class="fondjaune">刚刚</span> 下班 吗？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <span class="fondjaune">gānggāng</span> xiàbān ma?</span> <br/>Did you just get off work?</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="just-within-a-specific-time-period">"Just" Within a Specific Time Period</h2>

  <p>This more complicated use of <span class="hanzi">刚</span> (<span class="pinyin">gāng</span>) is not nearly as essential as the one above, but you may find it useful to specify just when the event "<b>just</b>" occurred, specifically.</p>

  <h3 id="structure-1">Structure</h3>

  <p><span class="hanzi">刚</span> (<span class="pinyin">gāng</span>) can also express "from the time an action happens until the present time."</p>

  <div class="deux">
    <p>Subj. + <span class="hanzi">刚</span> + Verb (+ Obj.) + Duration</p>
  </div>

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

  <h3 id="examples-1">Examples</h3>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">我 <span class="fondjaune">刚</span> 认识 她 十 天。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <span class="fondjaune">gāng</span> rènshi tā shí tiān.</span> <br/>I just met her ten days ago.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">他 <span class="fondjaune">刚</span> 来 中国 两 个 月。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Tā <span class="fondjaune">gāng</span> lái Zhōngguó liǎng gè yuè.</span> <br/>He just got to China two months ago.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 弟弟 <span class="fondjaune">刚</span> 工作 半年。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ dìdi <span class="fondjaune">gāng</span> gōngzuò bàn nián .</span> <br/>My younger brother just started working half a year ago.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">她 <span class="fondjaune">刚</span> 结婚 三 个 月 。</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Tā <span class="fondjaune">gāng</span> jiéhūn sān gè yuè.</span></li>

      <li>She just got married three months ago.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 的 车 <span class="fondjaune">刚</span> 买 两 天，开 的时候 小心 点。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ de chē <span class="fondjaune">gāng</span> mǎi liǎng tiān, kāi de shíhou xiǎoxīn diǎn.</span> <br/>I just bought the car two days ago. Be careful when you drive.</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>

  <ul>
    <li><a href="&quot;Just_now&quot;_with_&quot;gangcai&quot;" title="wikilink">"Just now" with "gangcai"</a></li>

    <li><a href="Comparing_&quot;gang&quot;_and_&quot;gangcai&quot;" title="wikilink">Comparing "gang" and "gangcai"</a></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. 216)</li>

    <li><span class="hanzi">卓越汉语－公司实战篇</span> (p. 239)</li>

    <li>Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (p. 81)</li>
  </ul>
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