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刚

gāng

The 'just now' where the door is still swinging

The picture A door that has only just closed, still swinging gently back and forth. 刚 is a trace still swinging; 马上 is a thing that has not arrived yet.

Adverbs and sound words

Where the picture shows up in 刚

  1. the just-now on your shoulder

    我刚到公司,还没换衣服。

    wǒ gāng dào gōng sī, hái méi huàn yī fu

    I just got to the office — I have not even changed yet.

    A bag strap still hooked over one shoulder while you stand catching your breath

    A following 还没 adds what you have not managed to do yet.

  2. the just-now in a meeting room

    会议刚开始,你快进来。

    huì yì gāng kāi shǐ, nǐ kuài jìn lái

    The meeting just started, come in quickly.

    A handout open at its first page while a hand waves toward the door

  3. the just-now at an empty seat

    他刚出去,您等一下。

    tā gāng chū qù, nín děng yí xià

    He just stepped out, please wait a moment.

    A coat still on the chair and steam still rising from the cup on the desk

  4. the just-now on your head

    我刚起床,头还有点晕。

    wǒ gāng qǐ chuáng, tóu hái yǒu diǎn yūn

    I just got up, my head is still foggy.

    Flattened hair untouched, a palm rubbing slow circles on the forehead

  5. the just-now on a sachet

    这个药刚吃,别再吃了。

    zhè ge yào gāng chī, bié zài chī le

    You just took this medicine, do not take any more.

    A torn sachet beside a glass of water drunk half down

    To name the moment itself you use the noun 刚才 instead.

All of it in one picture

刚 is a door still swinging. Put that motion on your own shoulder and it is an arrival so fresh the bag is not down yet; put it in a meeting room and it is a start fresh enough to walk in on. Put it on someone's chair and he has only just stepped out; put it on your head and you are barely awake; put it on a sachet of medicine and it becomes a warning not to take another. Something has passed just now, and you can still see its wake.

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