刚才

• 拼音: gāng cái
• 汉字拆解: 刚 = 冈 (ridge, phonetic) + 刂 (knife); 才 = a simple character originally depicting a sprout

含义

Just now; a moment ago. Refers to a very recent point in time.

Functions as a time noun and can appear before or after the subject. Unlike 刚 which is an adverb placed before verbs, 刚才 refers to a specific recent time point.

例句

1. 刚才谁打电话了？
2. 我刚才在超市看到你了。
3. 他刚才说了什么？

用法指南

语境: everyday conversation, asking about recent events

语气: conversational

正确说法

• 刚才发生了什么事？(What just happened?)
• 我刚才去了商店。(I just went to the store.)

错误说法

• 不要用刚才描述很久以前的事 — 刚才 only refers to the very recent past (minutes ago), not hours or days ago.

起源与历史

Compound of 刚 (just) and 才 (only then), reinforcing the sense of extreme recency.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal