Traditional: 剛
gāng HSK 4

English Meaning

📚 Example Sentences

我刚到北京。
Wǒ gāng dào Běijīng.
I just arrived in Beijing.
他刚吃完饭。
Tā gāng chī wán fàn.
He just finished eating.
我刚认识她。
Wǒ gāng rènshi tā.
I just met her.
我刚到。
Wǒ gāng dào.
I just arrived.
他刚走。
Tā gāng zǒu.
He just left.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 刚 as 'gang' in English—imagine a 'gang' of friends who just left a place, emphasizing something that happened very recently. The character 刚 looks like a combination of 冈 (hill) and 刂 (knife), picturing a knife that was just sharpened on a hill, symbolizing recent action.

📝 Usage Notes

刚 is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese, in informal and formal contexts. It typically appears before a verb to describe recent actions, such as in daily conversations or narratives. It's often used to explain a current state or request, like in the example asking for gum after eating garlic.

📖 Grammar Points

刚 is placed directly before the verb in a sentence, as in 'Subject + 刚 + Verb + Object.' It can be used with time expressions to specify recency, e.g., '他刚来五分钟' (He just arrived five minutes ago). It often pairs with 了 (le) to indicate completion, though 了 is sometimes omitted if context is clear.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, using 刚 to explain recent actions can be a polite way to provide context, such as excusing one's breath after eating strong food. It reflects a practical communication style where recency is highlighted to manage social interactions smoothly.

🔄 Similar Words

刚 is similar to 刚刚 (gānggāng), which also means 'just' but can sound slightly more emphatic or colloquial. It differs from 才 (cái), which can mean 'just' but often implies lateness or a sense of 'only then,' with more focus on timing or conditions rather than mere recency.

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