刚

gāng

Meaning

刚 is an adverb meaning “just / just now / a short while ago”.

It indicates that an action or situation happened only a short time ago.

刚 is usually placed after the subject and before the verb.

Subject + 刚 + Verb

我(Wǒ)刚(gāng)回(huí)来(lái)。

I just came back.

他(Tā)刚(gāng)下(xià)班(bān)。

He just got off work.

我(Wǒ)刚(gāng)吃(chī)完(wán)饭(fàn)。

I just finished eating.

刚 can also describe a recently performed action that modifies a noun.

刚 + Verb + 的 + Noun

我(Wǒ)上(shàng)午(wǔ)刚(gāng)借(jiè)的(de)那(nà)本(běn)书(shū)，怎(zěn)么(me)找(zhǎo)不(bú)到(dào)了(le)？

Why can't I find the book I just borrowed this morning?

刚……的时候 means “when someone had just…” or “when something had just begun”.

我(Wǒ)和(hé)丈(zhàng)夫(fu)刚(gāng)结(jié)婚(hūn)的(de)时(shí)候(hou)，每(měi)天(tiān)都(dōu)觉(jué)得(de)很(hěn)新(xīn)鲜(xiān)。

When my husband and I had just gotten married, everything felt new and exciting every day.

我(Wǒ)刚(gāng)从(cóng)会(huì)议(yì)室(shì)过(guò)来(lái)，怎(zěn)么(me)一(yí)个(ge)人(rén)也(yě)没(méi)有(yǒu)？

I just came from the meeting room. Why wasn't anyone there?

Subject + 刚 + Verb

我(Wǒ)刚(gāng)到(dào)。

I just arrived.

他(Tā)刚(gāng)走(zǒu)。

He just left.

刚 indicates something happened a short time ago. Usual pattern: Subject + 刚 + Verb 刚 = just / just now / a short while ago