{"id":15872,"date":"2020-01-12T16:29:12","date_gmt":"2020-01-12T16:29:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chinesemoment.com\/chinese-grammar\/chinese-grammar-comparing-gang-gang-and-gang-cai-gangcai\/"},"modified":"2020-01-12T16:29:12","modified_gmt":"2020-01-12T16:29:12","slug":"chinese-grammar-comparing-gang-gang-and-gang-cai-gangcai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chinesemoment.com\/vi\/chinese-grammar-comparing-gang-gang-and-gang-cai-gangcai\/","title":{"rendered":"Chinese grammar: Comparing \u521agang and \u521a\u624dgangcai"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\u521a (g\u0101ng) and \u521a\u624d (g\u0101ngcái) are similar, but they have somewhat different uses.<\/p>\n

\tBoth Come Before the Verb, But Have Different Emphasis<\/p>\n

\t\u521a emphasizes something "just" happened<\/strong>
\t"\u521a" is actually an adverb, and it is placed in front of the verb. It emphasizes that the action just happened a short time ago. It is similar to the English "just."
\tThe key here is that "a short time ago is relative, and determined by the speaker. For this reason, \u521a can indicate that something "just" happened 1 second ago, 5 minutes ago, 2 hours ago, 3 weeks ago, or even a year ago. The absolute time is flexible, but from the speaker's perspective, it feels recent.<\/p>\n

\tStructure<\/strong> \t<\/p>\n

\tExamples<\/strong> \t<\/p>\n

T\u0101 \u0261\u0101n\u0261 lái .
\t\u4ed6 \u521a \u6765\u3002<\/div>\n
(This gives the impression that not only did he just get here, but he should still be here.)
\tHe just came.<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

\t\u521a\u624d emphasizes "just now"<\/strong>
\t\u521a\u624d is a time noun (like \u4eca\u5929 and \u73b0\u5728), and it expresses that the time that has passed is really short, in near-absolute terms. We're talking no more than 1-30 minutes, in most situations. If it is placed before the verb, it emphasizes what happened in the time that has just passed. It is similar to the English "just now."<\/p>\n

\tStructure<\/strong> \t<\/p>\n

\tExamples<\/strong> \t<\/p>\n

W\u01d2 \u0261\u0101n\u0261 cái kàn \u0261uò le \uff0c bú xi\u01cen\u0261 zài kàn y\u012b biàn .
\t\u6211 \u521a\u624d \u770b \u8fc7 \u4e86\uff0c\u4e0d \u60f3 \u518d \u770b \u4e00 \u904d\u3002<\/div>\n
I saw it just now, and I don't want to see it again.<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

\t\u521a\u624d can be used as an attribute while \u521a cannot<\/strong><\/p>\n

\t\u521a\u624d can also directly modify a noun to indicate it is that one from "just now" or "just before."
\tStructure<\/strong> \t<\/p>\n

\tExamples<\/strong> \t<\/p>\n

G\u0101n\u0261 cái de shì qín\u0261 tài ràn\u0261 rén sh\u0113n\u0261 qì le.
\t\u521a\u624d \u7684 \u4e8b\u60c5 \u592a \u8ba9 \u4eba \u751f\u6c14 \u4e86\u3002<\/div>\n
What just happened really made people angry.<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

\t\u521a Can Be Used with Adjectives<\/strong><\/p>\n

\t\u521a is an adverb, and it can also spruce up an adjective. It has the same meaning as \u521a\u521a. (\u521a\u624d cannot do this.)
\tStructure<\/strong> \t<\/p>\n

\tExamples<\/strong> \t<\/p>\n

Ti\u0101n \u0261\u0101n\u0261 qín\u0261.
\t\u5929 \u521a \u6674\u3002<\/div>\n
The sky just became clear.<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

\t\u521a and \u521a\u624d with \u4e86<\/strong><\/p>\n

\tYou may have noticed that something interesting is going on with regards to \u4e86 in the sentences with \u521a and \u521a\u624d. Namely, \u4e86 is not usually required in sentences with \u521a, but it is usually required in sentences with \u521a\u624d. This is because \u521a\u624d refers to a time in the recent past, and you're usually indicated that something happened just now (started and finished).
\tTake these sentences for example: \t<\/p>\n

W\u01d2 zuó ti\u0101n m\u01cei le.
\t\u6211 \u6628\u5929 \u4e70 \u4e86 \u3002<\/div>\n
I bought it yesterday.<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

\tSo these are all simple time "noun + verb" sentences. Notice that when they refer to the past (including the one with \u521a\u624d), the action is completed and you need \u4e86. You don't need \u4e86 for things that haven't happened yet (they're just plans, and nothing is completed). And remember that \u521a\u624d always refers to the past.<\/p>\n

\tOK, now what about \u521a? Why does it not need \u4e86?
\tThe key is that you don't need a \u4e86 in a sentence with \u521a if the verb indicates a clear result. So, to use the \u4e70 example from above: \t<\/p>\n

W\u01d2 \u0261\u0101n\u0261 m\u01cei dào .
\t\u6211 \u521a \u4e70 \u5230 \u3002<\/div>\n
(Adding \u5230 to the verb gives a clear indication of result.)
\tI just bought it.<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

\t\u521a and \u521a\u624d with \u6ca1<\/strong><\/p>\n

\tOK, so there's also something going on with \u6ca1 in sentences with \u521a and \u521a\u624d. The deal here is that you can say something didn't happen just now (\u521a\u624d), but you can't say that something just didn't happen (\u521a). [Saying that something "just didn't happen" only works in English if you interpret "just" to mean "simply."]
\tThe takeaway? Just don't use \u521a in sentences where you use \u6ca1 to negate the past. \t<\/p>\n

W\u01d2 \u0261\u0101n\u0261 cái méi qù \u3002
\t\u6211 \u521a\u624d \u6ca1 \u53bb \u3002<\/div>\n
(It's fine to use \u521a\u624d with \u6ca1 in the past.)
\tI didn't go just now.<\/div>\n

\tFor that last pair of sentences, if you're not clear why it's OK to use \u4e0d with \u77e5\u9053 in the past, go ahead and check out our article on the differences between \u4e0d and \u6ca1. It goes beyond the basics into some of the trickier scenarios.<\/p>\n