刚才 (a moment ago)
Thirty seconds ago is already history
- just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 names a tiny slice of the recent past: "just now / a moment ago".
- It's a time-word, so it sits where yesterday昨天 would.
- just now (variant of 刚才)刚才他来(completed / change)了 = "he came a moment ago."
just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 + Clause
- Put just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 at the front, or right after the subject.
a moment ago刚才he他come来了。
- just now (variant of 刚才)刚才他来(completed / change)了 = "he came a moment ago."
Practice
He came a moment ago: ____ 他来了。
刚才 = a moment ago, a time-word: 刚才他来了.
Practice
刚才 behaves like which word?
刚才 is a time-word, so it sits where 昨天 / 今天 would.
Practice
Build: “What did you say just now?”
Subj + 刚才 + Verb: 你 + 刚才 + 说什么?
It points at the past
- just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 pairs with things that already happened — often with (completed / change)了.
you你a moment ago刚才say说what什么?
- you你just now (variant of 刚才)刚才variant of 说说what什么? = "what did you say just now?"
Explore
Correct or broken?
刚才 names the last few minutes — a time-word that leads clauses and takes 的.
Practice
刚才 points to the future.
刚才 points at the recent PAST, often with 了.
Recap
Key idea
- just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 — "a moment ago", a time-word (sits like yesterday昨天)
- Points at the recent past, often with (completed / change)了
- just now (variant of 刚才)刚才他来(completed / change)了 · you你just now (variant of 刚才)刚才variant of 说说what什么?
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Nouns.