gong1 ngaam1剛啱刚啱

Jyutpinggong1 ngaam1

Yalegōng ngāam

Definition

Just then, just now, or coincidentally at that moment.

colloquialtime

How it's used

Expresses a very recent past event, often implying that the action was completed only moments before the speaker is talking. It is the standard colloquial equivalent to the more formal 剛剛. It is frequently paired with the particle 先 to emphasize that the action happened only just now.

Examples

ngo5我gong1剛ngaam1啱sin1先faan1返dou3到uk1屋kei2企。

I just got home.

nei5你gong1剛ngaam1啱heoi3去zo2咗bin1邊aa4呀？

Where did you just go?

Common phrases

gong1剛ngaam1啱sin1先

just now (emphasized)

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with 啱啱, which can also mean 'exactly' or 'fitting', such as in 啱啱好 for 'just right'. While they are often interchangeable for 'just now', 剛啱 is more specifically focused on the temporal aspect of 'just a moment ago'.