====== gāng: 刚 - Just, Just now, Barely, Exactly ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** gāng, 刚, just in Chinese, just now Chinese, barely Chinese, Chinese adverb 刚, how to use gang in Chinese, 刚 vs 刚才, 刚 grammar, HSK 2 grammar, Chinese for beginners
  * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **刚 (gāng)**, a fundamental Chinese adverb essential for expressing actions that have "just" happened. This page provides a deep dive into its use, from "just now" and "barely" to "exactly," helping beginner learners master its nuances. Learn the critical difference between **刚 (gāng)** and **刚才 (gāngcái)**, explore practical examples from modern China, and understand how this simple character shapes the Chinese perception of time.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** gāng
  * **Part of Speech:** Adverb
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 2
  * **Concise Definition:** Indicates that an action or state occurred or began a very short time ago from the speaker's perspective.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **刚 (gāng)** is like a time-stamp you place directly before a verb to signal "this just happened." It’s less about a specific clock time and more about the *feeling* that an event is fresh and recent. If you just finished eating, just arrived home, or just started a new job, **刚 (gāng)** is the word you need.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **刚 (gāng):** This character is composed of two parts:
    * **冈 (gāng):** On the left, this component means "ridge" or "crest of a hill" and provides the sound.
    * **刂 (dāo):** On the right, this is the "knife" radical.
  * The original meaning of 刚 was "hard," "firm," or "unyielding," like a steel knife. Its grammatical use as "just" evolved from this idea of being on a sharp, precise edge—in this case, the sharp edge between the immediate past and the present moment. An action that //gāng// happened is still "sharp" and fresh in your mind.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * **A Different View of Time:** Unlike English, which relies heavily on verb tenses (eat, ate, have eaten), Chinese uses adverbs like **刚 (gāng)** to place actions in time. This reflects an aspect-based system, where the status of an action (e.g., just completed, ongoing) is more important than a rigid past/present/future tense. Using **刚 (gāng)** shows you are thinking in a more Chinese way about time—framing events by their recency relative to the present moment.
  * **Subjective vs. Objective:** The time frame for **刚 (gāng)** is wonderfully subjective. You can say "I **just** graduated" (`我刚毕业`) even if it was a month ago, as long as it *feels* recent to you. This contrasts with a more objective Western tendency to specify "I graduated a month ago." This flexibility makes **刚 (gāng)** a very personal and conversational tool for storytelling.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  * **To Mean "Just Now" or "A Short While Ago":**
    * This is the most common usage. It's placed directly before the verb.
    * e.g., `我刚起床。(Wǒ gāng qǐchuáng.)` - I just woke up.
  * **To Mean "Barely" or "Just Enough":**
    * It can describe reaching a threshold or minimum requirement.
    * e.g., `他的中文水平刚够 HSK 三级。(Tā de Zhōngwén shuǐpíng gāng gòu HSK sān jí.)` - His Chinese level is just enough for HSK 3.
  * **To Mean "Exactly" or "Coincidentally" (often as 刚好 gānghǎo):**
    * It expresses that something happened at the perfect moment or fits perfectly.
    * e.g., `这件衣服我穿刚(好)。(Zhè jiàn yīfu wǒ chuān gāng(hǎo).)` - This piece of clothing fits me perfectly.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 他**刚**走。
    * Pinyin: Tā **gāng** zǒu.
    * English: He just left.
    * Analysis: A classic, simple example. **刚** is placed right before the verb `走` (to leave) to indicate the action happened moments ago.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 我们**刚**结婚一个月，还在蜜月中。
    * Pinyin: Wǒmen **gāng** jiéhūn yí ge yuè, hái zài mìyuè zhōng.
    * English: We just got married a month ago, we're still in our honeymoon phase.
    * Analysis: This shows the subjective nature of **刚**. Even though a month has passed, it is considered "recent" from the speaker's perspective. Notice the time duration (`一个月`) comes *after* the verb phrase.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 我**刚**下班，现在在回家的路上。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ **gāng** xiàbān, xiànzài zài huíjiā de lùshang.
    * English: I just got off work, I'm on my way home now.
    * Analysis: A very common phrase used in daily conversation, for example, when calling a family member.
  * **Example 4:**
    * 你怎么**刚**来就要走？再坐一会儿吧！
    * Pinyin: Nǐ zěnme **gāng** lái jiù yào zǒu? Zài zuò yíhuìr ba!
    * English: How come you want to leave right after you just arrived? Stay a bit longer!
    * Analysis: Here, **刚** is used to create a contrast, emphasizing the short time between arriving and the intention to leave.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 他**刚**满十八岁，可以自己做主了。
    * Pinyin: Tā **gāng** mǎn shíbā suì, kěyǐ zìjǐ zuòzhǔ le.
    * English: He just turned eighteen, so he can make his own decisions now.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates the "barely" or "just reached a threshold" meaning of **刚**.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 这道题我**刚**学会，还做得不太好。
    * Pinyin: Zhè dào tí wǒ **gāng** xuéhuì, hái zuò de bú tài hǎo.
    * English: I just learned how to do this problem, so I'm still not very good at it.
    * Analysis: **刚** provides context for the following statement. The reason for not being good at it is because the learning was very recent.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 这件衣服不大不小，**刚**合适。
    * Pinyin: Zhè jiàn yīfu bú dà bù xiǎo, **gāng** héshì.
    * English: This piece of clothing isn't too big or too small, it's just right.
    * Analysis: An example of the "exactly" or "perfectly" meaning. This is often expanded to `刚好 (gānghǎo)`.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 别担心，我**刚**把文件发给你了。
    * Pinyin: Bié dānxīn, wǒ **gāng** bǎ wénjiàn fā gěi nǐ le.
    * English: Don't worry, I just sent the document to you.
    * Analysis: Note the use of `了 (le)` at the end of the sentence. While `了` is often omitted immediately after `刚 + Verb`, it can appear at the end of a longer sentence to indicate completion of the entire action.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 你**刚**说什么了？我没听清楚。
    * Pinyin: Nǐ **gāng** shuō shénme le? Wǒ méi tīng qīngchǔ.
    * English: What did you just say? I didn't hear clearly.
    * Analysis: A common question used when you miss what someone said a moment ago.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 我到车站的时候，公交车**刚好**来了。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ dào chēzhàn de shíhou, gōngjiāochē **gānghǎo** lái le.
    * English: When I got to the station, the bus coincidentally just arrived.
    * Analysis: This showcases the common and useful compound word `刚好 (gānghǎo)`, which emphasizes coincidence or perfect timing.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **The Biggest Mistake: Confusing 刚 (gāng) and 刚才 (gāngcái)**
    * This is the most common pitfall for learners. They seem similar, but their grammar is completely different.
    * **刚 (gāng)** is an **adverb**. It MUST be followed by a verb. It describes the verb as "recent."
      * Correct: `我刚吃饭。(Wǒ gāng chīfàn.)` - I just ate.
      * Incorrect: `我刚很忙。` (Wrong, because `很忙` is not a verb.)
    * **刚才 (gāngcái)** is a **time noun**. It means "a moment ago." It can be placed at the beginning of a sentence or before a verb, just like "yesterday" or "today."
      * Correct: `我刚才很忙。(Wǒ gāngcái hěn máng.)` - I was busy a moment ago.
      * Correct: `刚才谁来了？(Gāngcái shéi lái le?)` - Who came just now?
  * **Using 了 (le) with 刚 (gāng)**
    * As a rule of thumb, avoid putting `了 (le)` directly after the verb in a `刚 + Verb` structure. The word **刚** itself already implies the action was recently completed.
    * Correct: `我刚到家。(Wǒ gāng dào jiā.)` - I just got home.
    * Awkward/Incorrect: `我刚到了家。`
    * Exception: `了 (le)` can appear at the very end of a longer sentence for sentence completion, as seen in Example 8.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[刚才]] (gāngcái) - A time-noun meaning "a moment ago." The most important term to distinguish from the adverb `刚`.
  * [[才]] (cái) - An adverb indicating that something happened "only then" or later than expected. It often implies a delay. e.g., `他九点才来 (He didn't come until 9)`.
  * [[刚刚]] (gānggāng) - A slightly more emphatic version of `刚`, stressing that something happened "just this very moment." Often used interchangeably with `刚`.
  * [[刚好]] (gānghǎo) - A very common compound word meaning "coincidentally," "just in time," or "to be just right."
  * [[正好]] (zhènghǎo) - A close synonym of `刚好`, also meaning "coincidentally" or "just right."
  * [[马上]] (mǎshàng) - "Immediately," "right away." This adverb refers to the immediate future, whereas `刚` refers to the immediate past.
  * [[立刻]] (lìkè) - "At once," "immediately." A more formal synonym of `马上`, also referring to the future.