gāng

刚

HSK 2Character · Adjective · Noun · AdverbTraditional剛

hard; firm; just; exactly

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

6 senses · 27 examples
1.

adjective

hard; firm; strong; unyielding

Used to describe material hardness, personal character, or abstract qualities.

Zhè这
kuài块
gāng钢
tiě铁
hěn很
yìng硬
hěn很
gāng刚
 。

This piece of steel is very hard and firm.

Tā他
xìng性
gé格
gāng刚
zhí直
 ,
cóng从
bù不
xiàng向
è恶
shì势
lì力
dī低
tóu头
 。

He has an upright and firm character, never bowing to evil forces.

Show 3 more examples
Zhè这
zhǒng种
gāng刚
jiàn健
de的
wǔ舞
zī姿
zhǎn展
xiàn现
le了
mín民
zú族
jīng精
shén神
 。

This vigorous dance performance showcases the national spirit.

Gāng刚
jìng劲
de的
shū书
fǎ法
zuò作
pǐn品
ràng让
rén人
yìn印
xiàng象
shēn深
kè刻
 。

The forceful and firm calligraphy work leaves a deep impression.

Tā他
de的
tài态
dù度
fēi非
cháng常
gāng刚
yìng硬
 ,
bù不
kěn肯
tuǒ妥
xié协
 。

His attitude is very unyielding and refuses to compromise.

2.

noun

surname Gang

Used as a family name.

Gāng刚
lǎo老
shī师
jīn今
tiān天
gěi给
wǒ我
men们
shàng上
le了
yǔ语
wén文
kè课
 。

Teacher Gang taught us Chinese class today.

Wǒ我
rèn认
shi识
yī一
wèi位
xìng姓
Gāng刚
de的
péng朋
you友
 。

I know a friend whose family name is Gang.

3.

adverb

exactly; just right

Used to indicate that something fits perfectly or matches a standard.

Zhè这
jiàn件
yī衣
fú服
bù不
dà大
bù不
xiǎo小
 ,
gāng刚
hé合
shì适
 。

This dress is neither too big nor too small, it fits perfectly.

Wǒ我
men们
gāng刚
gǎn赶
dào到
chē车
zhàn站
 ,
huǒ火
chē车
jiù就
kāi开
zǒu走
le了
 。

We just arrived at the station right as the train left.

Show 3 more examples
Zhè这
ge个
wèi位
zhì置
gāng刚
shì适
hé合
nǐ你
zuò坐
 。

This seat is exactly suitable for you to sit in.

Zhè这
fèn份
fàn饭
cài菜
gāng刚
gòu够
wǒ我
men们
liǎng两
ge个
rén人
chī吃
 。

This meal is just enough for the two of us to eat.

Zhè这
ge个
chǐ尺
cùn寸
gāng刚
fú符
hé合
yāo要
qiú求
 。

This size exactly meets the requirements.

4.

adverb

only; barely; just enough

Used to indicate that something is just barely sufficient or within a narrow limit.

Qīng清
zǎo早
chū出
fā发
de的
shí时
hou候
tiān天
hái还
hěn很
hēi黑
 ,
gāng刚
néng能
kàn看
chū出
qián前
miàn面
de的
rén人
de的
bēi背
bāo包
 。

When we set off early in the morning, it was still so dark that we could barely see the backpacks of the people ahead.

Tā他
gāng刚
gòu够
jí及
gé格
xiàn线
 ,
miǎn勉
qiǎng强
tōng通
guò过
le了
kǎo考
shì试
 。

He barely passed the exam, just meeting the passing score.

Show 3 more examples
Zhè这
ge个
xiāng箱
zi子
gāng刚
néng能
fàng放
jìn进
hòu后
bèi备
xiāng箱
lǐ里
 。

This suitcase can barely fit into the trunk.

Tā他
gāng刚
mǎn满
shí十
bā八
suì岁
 ,
gāng刚
gāng刚
chéng成
nián年
 。

He just turned eighteen, barely an adult.

Zhè这
jiān间
wū屋
zi子
gāng刚
néng能
fàng放
xià下
yī一
zhāng张
chuáng床
hé和
yī一
zhāng张
zhuō桌
zi子
 。

This room can barely fit a bed and a desk.

5.

adverb

just now; recently

Used to describe an action that happened a short time ago.

Tā他
gāng刚
cóng从
shàng上
hǎi海
huí回
lái来
 。

He just got back from Shanghai.

Nà那
shí时
dì弟
di弟
gāng刚
xué学
huì会
zǒu走
lù路
 。

At that time, my little brother had just learned to walk.

Show 3 more examples
Wǒ我
gāng刚
jiē接
dào到
yī一
gè个
diàn电
huà话
 ,
děi得
mǎ马
shàng上
chū出
qù去
 。

I just got a phone call and have to go out right away.

Mā妈
ma妈
gāng刚
zuò做
hǎo好
fàn饭
 ,
wǒ我
men们
kě可
yǐ以
kāi开
fàn饭
le了
 。

Mom just finished cooking, we can eat now.

Lǎo老
shī师
gāng刚
bù布
zhì置
wán完
zuò作
yè业
 ,
dà大
jiā家
zhuā抓
jǐn紧
shí时
jiān间
xiě写
ba吧
 。

The teacher just assigned the homework, everyone hurry up and finish it.

6.

adverb

as soon as; no sooner than

Used in compound sentences, paired with "就" to show two actions happen immediately in sequence.

Gāng刚
guò过
lì立
chūn春
 ,
tiān天
qì气
jiù就
yì异
hū乎
xún寻
cháng常
de地
rè热
le了
qǐ起
lái来
 。

No sooner had the Spring Began than the weather became unusually hot.

Gāng刚
xià下
bān班
 ,
tā他
jiù就
jiē接
dào到
le了
péng朋
you友
de的
jù聚
huì会
yāo邀
qǐng请
 。

As soon as he got off work, he received a party invitation from his friend.

Show 3 more examples
Gāng刚
dǎ打
kāi开
mén门
 ,
xiǎo小
māo猫
jiù就
pǎo跑
le了
chū出
qù去
 。

No sooner had I opened the door than the kitten ran out.

Gāng刚
shuō说
wán完
zhè这
jù句
huà话
 ,
tā他
jiù就
hòu后
huǐ悔
le了
 。

As soon as he finished saying this sentence, he regretted it.

Gāng刚
chī吃
wán完
wǔ午
fàn饭
 ,
bà爸
ba爸
jiù就
dài带
wǒ我
qù去
gōng公
yuán园
sàn散
bù步
 。

No sooner had I finished lunch than my father took me for a walk in the park.