gong1剛刚
Jyutpinggong1
Yalegōng
Definition
Just; barely; exactly at the right moment.
- just; barely; only
- coincidentally; exactly; precisely
colloquialtimedescriptions
How it's used
Use 啱啱 to describe events that happened a short time ago or to indicate that something is exactly right. It functions as an adverb of time or degree. While 剛 is the character used in formal writing, 啱啱 is the standard spoken form heard in daily conversation.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse 啱啱 with the Mandarin word 剛, which is rarely used in spoken Cantonese. Always use 啱啱 to sound natural in a Hong Kong context.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
