刚

• Pinyin: gāng
• Hanzi breakdown: 刚 = 冈 (gāng, ridge, phonetic) + 刂 (knife radical)

Meaning

Just; just now. Indicates an action has only recently occurred.

A very common time adverb placed before the verb. Often used with 了 or combined as 刚刚 for emphasis. Essential for expressing recent past actions.

Examples

1. 我刚到家，你呢？ I just got home. How about you?
2. 她刚吃完饭就出去了。 She went out right after finishing her meal.
3. 这本书我刚买的。 I just bought this book.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday conversation, narration, time expressions

Tone: conversational

Do Say

• 我刚回来。(I just got back.)
• 他刚走。(He just left.)

Don't Say

• 不要说'我刚会来' — 刚 describes past actions that just happened, not future plans. For 'about to,' use 快要 or 就要.

Origin & History

Originally meant 'hard, strong, firm' (as in 刚强). The temporal meaning 'just now' developed as an extension of the sense of immediacy.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal