HSK 4 · VERSION 2.0#19
Expressing “Just” with “gāng”
刚
How it works
刚 (gāng) means “just.” It is used when something happened a short time ago.
It focuses on the fact that the action happened very recently. It is usually placed before the verb.
The pattern
Subject + 刚 (gāng) + Verb
Example sentences
我刚到家。
I just got home.
他刚吃完饭。
He just finished eating.
我们刚见过面。
We just met.
Key point
Students often confuse 刚 (gāng) and 刚才 (gāngcái).
刚 (gāng) is an adverb and goes before the verb
刚才 (gāngcái) is a time expression meaning “just now”
Compare:
我刚到。 Wǒ gāng dào. I just arrived.
我刚才看见他了。 Wǒ gāngcái kànjiàn tā le. I saw him just now.