ChineseGrammarWiki/Programmes/B1.old/Grammar-wiki-B1-141.txt

{{Grammar Box}} 

刚 (gāng) and 刚才 (gāngcái) are similar, but they have somewhat different uses.

== Both Come Before the Verb, But Have Different Emphasis ==

=== 刚 emphasizes something "just" happened ===

"刚" is actually an adverb, and it is placed in front of the verb. It emphasizes that the action ''just'' happened a short time ago. It is similar to the English "just."

The key here is that a short time ago is relative, and determined by the speaker.  For this reason, 刚 can indicate that something "just" happened 1 second ago, 5 minutes ago, 2 hours ago, 3 weeks ago, or even a year ago.  The absolute time is flexible, but from the speaker's perspective, it ''feels'' recent.

==== Structure ====

<div class="jiegou">
刚 + Verb
</div>

==== Examples ====

<div class="liju">
* 他 <em>刚</em> 来。<span class="expl">This gives the impression that not only did he just get here, but he should still be here.</span><span class="pinyin">Tā <em>gāng</em> lái.</span><span class="trans">He just came.</span>
* 我 昨天 <em>刚</em> 看到 他 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ zuótiān <em>gāng</em> kàndào tā.</span><span class="trans">I just saw him yesterday.</span>
* 我 <em>刚</em> 说过 ， 不 想 再 说 一 遍 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ zuótiān <em>gāng</em> kàn dào tā.</span><span class="trans">I just said it, and I don't want to say it again.</span>
* 我们 去年 <em>刚</em> 去 过 美国 。<span class="expl">This "just" is relative, clearly. The speaker feels that a year ago isn't too long ago.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen qùnián <em>gāng</em> qù guo Měiguó.</span><span class="trans">We've just been to the United States last year.</span>
</div>

=== 刚才 emphasizes "just now" ===

刚才 is a [[time noun]] (like 今天 and 现在), and it expresses that the time that has passed is really short, in near-absolute terms.  We're talking no more than 1-30 minutes, in most situations. If it is placed before the verb, it emphasizes what happened in the time that has just passed. It is similar to the English "'''just now'''."

==== Structure ====

<div class="jiegou">
刚才 + Verb
</div>

==== Examples ====

<div class="liju">
* 他 <em>刚才</em> 来 过。 <span class="expl">In this case, he's come and gone already. He's not here anymore.</span><span class="pinyin">Tā <em> gāngcái</em> lái guo.</span><span class="trans">He came just now.</span>
* 我 <em>刚才</em> 看到 他 了。<span class="expl">Sounds like he's not here anymore; I just saw him, but don't see him now.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em> gāngcái</em> kàndào tā le.</span><span class="trans">I just now saw him.</span>
* 我 <em>刚才</em> 看 过 了 ， 不 想 再 看 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>gāngcái</em> kàn guo le, bù xiǎng zài kàn le.</span><span class="trans">I saw it just now, and I don't want to see it again.</span>
* 我 现在 感觉 比 <em>刚才</em> 好 一点 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiànzài gǎnjué bǐ <em>gāngcái</em> hǎo yīdiǎn.</span><span class="trans">I feel a little better now than just before.</span>
</div>

== 刚才 can be used as an attribute while 刚 cannot==

刚才 can also directly modify a noun to indicate it is that one from "just now" or "just before."

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
刚才 + 的 + Noun
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li class="o"><em>刚才</em> <strong>的 事情</strong> 太 让 人 生气 了。<span class="pinyin"><em>Gāngcái</em> <strong>de shìqing</strong> tài ràng rén shēngqì le.</span><span class="trans">What just happened really made people angry.</span></li>
<li class="x"><em>刚</em> <strong>的 事情</strong> 太 让 人 生气 了。<span class="pinyin"><em>Gāng</em> <strong>de shìqing</strong> tài ràng rén shēngqì le.</span><span class="trans">Just thing really makes people angry.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>

== 刚 Can Be Used with Adjectives ==

刚 is an adverb, and it can also spruce up an adjective. It has the same meaning as 刚刚. (刚才 cannot do this.)

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
刚 + Adj.
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

* 天 <em>刚</em> 晴 。 <span class="pinyin">Tiān <em>gāng</em> qíng.</span><span class="trans">The sky just cleared up.</span>
* 这些 <em>刚</em> 好 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhèxiē <em>gāng</em> hǎo.</span><span class="trans">These are just right.</span>
* 面包 <em>刚</em> 熟 ， 过 一会儿 再 吃 。 <span class="pinyin">Miànbāo <em>gāng</em> shóu, guò yīhuìr zài chī.</span><span class="trans">The bread just got done cooking. Eat in a little bit.</span>

</div>

== 刚 and 刚才 with 了 ==

You may have noticed that something interesting is going on with regards to [[了]] in the sentences with 刚 and 刚才. Namely, 了 is not usually required in sentences with 刚, but it is usually required in sentences with 刚才.  This is because 刚才 refers to a time in the recent past, and you're usually indicated that something happened just now (started and finished).

Take these sentences for example:

<div class="liju">
* 我 昨天 买 了 。<span class="trans">I bought it yesterday.</span>
* 我 刚才 买 了 。<span class="trans">I bought it just now.</span>
* 我 明天 买 。<span class="trans">I'll buy it tomorrow.</span>
</div>

So these are all simple time "noun + verb" sentences.  Notice that when they refer to the ''past'' (including the one with 刚才), the action is completed and you need 了.  You don't need 了 for things that haven't happened yet (they're just plans, and nothing is completed).  And remember that 刚才 ''always refers to the past''.

OK, now what about 刚?  Why does it not need 了?

The key is that you don't need a 了 in a sentence with 刚 if the verb indicates a clear result.  So, to use the 买 example from above:

<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li class="x">我 <em>刚</em> <strong>买</strong> 。<span class="expl">The verb 买 is kind of like "try to buy"; there is no clear indication of result.</span><span class="trans">I just buy it.</span></li>
<li class="o">我 <em>刚</em> <strong>买到</strong> 。<span class="expl">Adding 到 to the verb gives a clear indication of result.</span><span class="trans">I just bought it.</span></li>
<li class="o">我 <em>刚</em> <strong>买 了</strong> 。<span class="expl">Adding 了 after the verb also gives a clear indication of result.</span><span class="trans">I just bought it.</span></li>
<li class="o">你 也 <em>刚</em> <strong>知道</strong> 吗 ？ <span class="expl">The verb 知道 always includes the result of "knowing."</span><span class="trans">You also just found out?</span></li>
<li class="x">妈妈 <em>刚</em> <strong>看</strong> 。<span class="expl">No clear indication of result.</span><span class="trans">Mom just look.</span></li>
<li class="o">妈妈 <em>刚</em> <strong>看到</strong> 。<span class="expl">Adding 到 to the verb gives a clear indication of result.</span><span class="trans">Mom just saw it.</span></li>
<li class="o">妈妈 <em>刚</em> <strong>看 了</strong> 。<span class="expl">Adding 了 to the verb gives a clear indication of result.</span><span class="trans">Mom just looked at it.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>

== 刚 and 刚才 with 没 ==

OK, so there's also something going on with [[没]] in sentences with 刚 and 刚才. The deal here is that you can say something ''didn't happen '''just now''''' (刚才), but you can't say that something '''''just''' didn't happen'' (刚).  [Saying that something "just didn't happen" only works in English if you interpret "just" to mean "simply."]

The takeaway?  Just don't use 刚 in sentences where you use 没 to negate the past.

<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li class="x">我 <em>刚</em> <strong>没 去</strong> 。<span class="expl">Don't use 刚 with 没 in the past.</span><span class="trans">I just didn't go.</span></li>
<li class="o">我 <em>刚才</em> <strong>没 去</strong> 。<span class="expl">It's fine to use 刚才 with 没 in the past.</span><span class="trans">I didn't go just now.</span></li>

<li class="x">她 <em>刚</em> <strong>没 问</strong> 我 这个 问题 。<span class="expl">Don't use 刚 with 没 in the past.</span><span class="trans">She just didn't ask me this question.</span></li>
<li class="o">她 <em>刚才</em> <strong>没 问</strong> 我 这个 问题 。<span class="expl">It's fine to use 刚才 with 没 in the past.</span><span class="trans">She didn't ask me this question just now.</span></li>

<li class="x">我 <em>刚</em> <strong>没 喝</strong> 你的 啤酒 。<span class="expl">Don't use 刚 with 没 in the past.</span><span class="trans">I just didn't drink your beer.</span></li>
<li class="o">我 <em>刚才</em> <strong>没 喝</strong> 你的 啤酒 。<span class="expl">It's fine to use 刚才 with 没 in the past.</span><span class="trans">I didn't drink your beer just now.</span></li>

<li class="x">我 <em>刚</em> <strong>不 知道</strong> 。<span class="expl">OK, so it's not 没, but you still shouldn't use 刚 for something that didn't happen.</span><span class="trans">I just didn't know.</span></li>
<li class="o">我 <em>刚才</em> <strong>不 知道</strong> 。<span class="expl">It's fine to use 刚才 with exceptions where you use 不 in the past.</span><span class="trans">Just now I didn't know.</span></li>

</ul>
</div>

For that last pair of sentences, if you're not clear why it's OK to use [[不]] with 知道 in the past, go ahead and check out our article on [[comparing "bu" and "mei"|the differences between 不 and 没]].  It goes beyond the basics into some of the trickier scenarios.

== Right or Wrong ==

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li class="x">我 <em>刚才</em> 回家。<span class="expl">You should use 了 with 刚才 here.</span><span class="trans">I just now go home.</span></li>
<li class="o">我 <em>刚</em> 回家。<span class="expl">The verb 回 includes a clear enough indication of result.</span><span class="trans">I just got home.</span></li>
<li class="x">我 <em>刚</em> 没 想好 吃 什么，现在 我 想好 了。<span class="expl">刚 doesn't work with 没.</span><span class="trans">I just didn't make up my mind what to eat, now I've made up my mind.</span></li>
<li class="o">我 <em>刚才</em> 没 想好 吃 什么，现在 我 想好 了。<span class="expl">No need to use 了 with 没.</span><span class="trans">Just now, I hadn't made up my mind what to eat, now I've made up my mind.</span></li>
<li class="o">他 <em>刚才</em> 没 听懂 我的 话 。<span class="expl">No need to use 了 with 没.</span><span class="trans">He didn't understand what I said just now.</span></li>
<li class="x">他 <em>刚</em> 没 听懂我的话。<span class="expl">刚 doesn't work with 没.</span><span class="trans">He just didn't understand what I said.</span></li>
<li class="o">我 也 是 <em>刚</em> 听说 这 个 消息。<span class="expl">The verb 听说 includes a clear enough indication of result.</span><span class="trans">I also just heard this news.</span></li>
<li class="o">我 <em>刚才</em> 听说 了 这 个 消息。<span class="expl">You should use 了 with 刚才 here.</span><span class="trans">I heard this news just now.</span></li>
<li class="x">昨天 他 <em>刚才</em> 来 过。<span class="expl">刚才 should be used for events a lot closer in time than 昨天.</span><span class="trans">He just now came yesterday.</span></li>
<li class="o">昨天 他 <em>刚</em> 来 过。<span class="expl">刚 works with 昨天.</span><span class="trans">He just came yesterday.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>

== Example dialog ==

<div class="liju">
* A: 你 <em>刚才</em> 去 哪儿 了？<span class="trans">Where did you go just now?</span>
* B: 我  <em>刚</em> 上 完 厕所。<span class="trans">I just got done in the bathroom.</span>
* A: 那 你 不 知道 <em>刚才</em> 的 事情 吧？<span class="trans">Then you don't know what happened just now?</span>
* B: 是 不 是 有人 吵架 了？<span class="trans">Did some people have an argument?</span>
</div>

== See Also ==

*[["Just now" with "gangcai"]] 
*[["Just" with "gang"]]

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Books ===

*[[现代汉语八百词（增订本）]] (刚 p.216) [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 →buy]
*[[现代汉语虚词例释]](刚 p.190) [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/B004323J90/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]
*[[现代汉语八百词（增订本）]] (刚才 p.217) [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 →buy]
*[[对外汉语教学语法释疑201例]] (p.28) [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 →buy]
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 40- 2) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
*[[卓越汉语－公司实战篇]] (p. 239) [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 →buy]

=== Dictionaries ===
* [[现代汉语词典（第5版）]] (p.446) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/dp/B001B1RZCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693609&sr=8-1 →buy]

[[Category:grammar comparison]]
{{Basic Grammar|刚|B1|刚 vs 刚才|你 <em>刚才</em> 去 哪儿 了？我  <em>刚</em> 上 完 厕所。|grammar point|ASGJFFWG}}
{{Rel char|刚才}}
{{Similar|"Just now" with "gangcai"}}
{{Similar|"Just" with "gang"}}
{{Used for|Describing actions}}
{{Used for|Expressing time and date}}
{{Translation|just}}
{{Comparison|Time Words}}