刚 gāng just
just; barely; firm
How to remember 刚: 冈 ridge + 刂 knife = just. On the mountain ridge the hiker pulls out a knife to cut the birthday cake, and the sun has just come up.
Component breakdown
刚 = 冈 ridge + 刂 knife
- 冈 ridge
- 刂 knife
On the mountain ridge the hiker pulls out a knife to cut the birthday cake, and the sun has just come up.
How it is used
- Just (a moment ago) / just barely - 我刚到 (wǒ gāng dào) I just arrived; 刚好 (gānghǎo) just right/exactly.
- Distinguish 刚 (an adverb, right before the verb: 他刚走 he just left) from 刚才 (gāngcái, a time noun = 'just now' that can sit at the front: 刚才他走了).
- Doubled 刚刚 (gānggāng) intensifies 'only just now'. 刚 also carries a 'firm/hard' sense in compounds.
Words with 刚
Example sentences
- 午饭才刚开始。 Wǔfàn cái gāng kāishǐ.Lunch has just started.
- 天刚破晓，景色很美。 Tiān gāng pòxiǎo, jǐngsè hěn měi.The scenery at dawn is very beautiful.
- 刚才有你的电话。 Gāngcái yǒu nǐ de diànhuà.You received a call a short while ago.