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HSK 2

时间副词：刚、刚刚、还、忽然、一直、已经

shí jiān fù cí ： gāng 、 gāng gāng 、 hái 、 hū rán 、 yì zhí 、 yǐ jīng

Adverbs of time: 刚, 刚刚, 还, 忽然, 一直, 已经

Explanation

This is a group of time adverbs (words that modify a verb or adjective), placed before the verb to indicate the time or manner in which an action takes place.

Structure

Subject + [刚/刚刚/还/忽然/一直/已经] + verb/adjective. These words go before the verb, functioning as adverbials (elements indicating time, place, or manner).

When to use

刚 (gāng) / 刚刚 (gānggāng) = just now (an action just finished); 还 (hái) = still/yet (a state continues); 忽然 (hūrán) = suddenly (something happens unexpectedly); 一直 (yīzhí) = continuously, all along (lasting without interruption); 已经 (yǐjīng) = already (an action is completed, usually paired with 了 le at the end).

Distinguish

刚 (gāng) is a time adverb for a very short time just past, placed right before the verb, without 了; whereas 刚才 (gāngcái) is a time noun meaning "a moment ago," placed at the head of the sentence and usable with 了. Don't confuse these two words.

Common mistakes

Vietnamese learners often place these adverbs after the verb following Vietnamese word order ("rain still"), but Chinese requires them BEFORE the verb (还在下雨). With 已经 remember to add 了 at the end of the sentence (已经...了).

Examples

我刚从学校回到家。
wǒgāngcóngxuéxiàohuídàojiā。

I just got home from school.

白老师刚刚从国外回来。
báilǎoshīgānggāngcóngguówàihuílái。

Teacher Bai just came back from abroad.

外边还在下雨呢。
wàibiānháizàixiàyǔne。

It's still raining outside.

街上的灯忽然都亮了。
jiēshàngdedēnghūrándōuliàngle。

The lights on the street suddenly all lit up.

她一直在说话。
tāyìzhízàishuōhuà。

She has been talking non-stop.

校长已经下班了。
xiàozhǎngyǐjīngxiàbānle。

The principal has already left work.

Practice

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Learn “时间副词：刚、刚刚、还、忽然、一直、已经” effectively

The grammar point “时间副词：刚、刚刚、还、忽然、一直、已经” (Adverbs of time: 刚, 刚刚, 还, 忽然, 一直, 已经) is one of the key structures at HSK 2. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.

Study tip: read the examples aloud many times to build a natural reflex. Then try making your own sentences for your own situations. Use the audio button to hear and practice accurate pronunciation.

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