刚才
Traditional: 剛纔
gāng cái HSK 3

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

刚才下雨了。
Gāngcái xià yǔle.
It rained just now.
他刚才在这里。
Tā gāngcái zài zhèlǐ.
He was here a moment ago.
我刚才吃了饭。
Wǒ gāngcái chīle fàn.
I ate just now.
我刚才吃饭。
Wǒ gāngcái chīfàn.
I ate just now.
他刚才走了。
Tā gāngcái zǒu le.
He left a moment ago.

💡 Memory Tip

Break it down: 刚 (gāng) means 'just' or 'hard,' and 才 (cái) means 'only' or 'just.' Together, they reinforce the idea of 'just now.' Think of it as 'just-only' to remember it refers to the immediate past.

📝 Usage Notes

It is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese, in informal and formal contexts alike. It typically appears at the beginning of a sentence or before the verb to indicate the timing of an action.

📖 Grammar Points

Used as a time adverbial, often placed at the start of a sentence or before the verb, e.g., '刚才 + Subject + Verb + Object.' It cannot be modified by words like 很 (hěn) or 最 (zuì).

🏯 Cultural Notes

It refers to a very recent past, often used to describe actions that happened moments ago, and implies the time frame is still connected to the present moment.

🔄 Similar Words

Similar to 刚刚 (gānggāng, also 'just now'), but 刚才 is a noun and can stand alone as a time reference, while 刚刚 is an adverb and must modify a verb. 刚才 often implies a slightly longer or more defined recent past than 刚刚.

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