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刚 vs 刚才 (just now: adverb vs time-word)
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You only just missed her
- You knock on your friend's door; her roommate says she left a few minutes ago.
- she / her她just now刚才to go out出去(completed / change)了。 — "She went out a moment ago." just now刚才 is a time word for "just now".
just刚 is an adverb, just now刚才 is a time word
- just刚 + Verb = "have just (done)"; it goes right before the verb: I我just刚arrive到 — "I've just arrived."
- just now刚才 = "a moment ago"; like yesterday昨天, it can start the sentence: just now刚才you你to go去where哪儿(completed / change)了？
I我just刚arrive到home家。
Complete: “What did you say just now?” ____你说什么？
Độ khó 1/5 · 100 xu + một phần thưởng nhỏ cho lần hoàn thành đầu tiên trong ngày
Only the time word 刚才 can start the sentence.
How recent is "just"?
- just刚 can stretch: he / him他just刚to come来Beijing, capital of the…北京一个月。 — "He's only been in Beijing a month." It is recent from the speaker's view.
- just now刚才 is only a few minutes ago: just now刚才someone有人to给you你to make a telephone call打电话。 — "Someone called you just now."
just now刚才there was有someone人to给you你make打a phone call电话。
Build: “Someone called you just now.”
Độ khó 3/5 · 200 xu + một phần thưởng nhỏ cho lần hoàn thành đầu tiên trong ngày
刚才 + 有人 + 给 + person + 打电话.
Position and (completed / change)了
- just刚 never starts the sentence: I我just刚to have a meal吃饭, not just刚I我to have a meal吃饭. just now刚才 may come first: just now刚才I我to have a meal吃饭(completed / change)了.
- just刚 + verb usually has no (completed / change)了: I我just刚arrive到. just now刚才 sentences take (completed / change)了 normally: he / him他just now刚才to walk走(completed / change)了.
Which sentence is correct?
Độ khó 1/5 · 100 xu + một phần thưởng nhỏ cho lần hoàn thành đầu tiên trong ngày
刚 stands right before the verb; it cannot start the sentence or go before an adjective.
just now刚才 can describe a past state
- just now刚才 works with adjectives and negatives: just now刚才very很hot热，now现在many好多(completed / change)了。 — "It was hot just now; now it's much better."
- just刚 does not: you cannot say just刚very很hot热. Use just now刚才.
just now刚才very很hot热，now现在better好much多了。
刚才很忙 is correct, but 刚很忙 is not.
Độ khó 1/5 · 100 xu + một phần thưởng nhỏ cho lần hoàn thành đầu tiên trong ngày
刚才 can describe a state a moment ago; 刚 only goes before an action verb.
Recap
- just刚 + Verb = have just done (adverb, before the verb, usually no (completed / change)了).
- just now刚才 = a moment ago (time word, can start the sentence, works with (completed / change)了, adjectives and not / haven't没).
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Comparing adverbs.
You knock on your friend's door; her roommate says she left a few minutes ago. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.