Using 刚 and 就 for Immediate

This pattern connects two verbs. It shows a tight sequence. You use 刚 before the first action to show it just finished. Then, you use 就 before the second action to show it happened immediately after. It’s like a relay race where the baton is passed instantly. You don't need to wait for a specific time to pass. It’s all about the perceived speed. If you feel like it happened fast, this is your go-to structure. Even if five minutes passed, using 就 makes it sound like zero seconds passed. It’s all about the drama of the moment!

1. 1Building this sentence is like stacking blocks. Follow these steps:
2. 2Start with your Subject (the person or thing doing the action).
3. 3Add 刚 (the "just happened" marker).
4. 4Add your first Verb (Action A).
5. 5Follow up with 就 (the "immediately" marker).
6. 6Finish with your second Verb (Action B).
7. 7The basic formula looks like this: Subject + 刚 + Verb 1 + 就 + Verb 2.
8. 8For example: 我 (Subject) + 刚 + 到 (Verb 1) + 就 + 下雨了 (Verb 2). "I just arrived and then it started raining."

Use this pattern when you want to highlight a quick transition. It’s great for everyday storytelling. Use it when ordering food: "I just sat down and the waiter immediately brought the menu." Use it for work: "I just finished the report and the boss immediately called me." It’s also perfect for travel mishaps. "I just got off the plane and then I lost my bag." It adds a sense of flow to your Chinese. It makes you sound less like a robot and more like a storyteller. If the gap between two actions feels non-existent, reach for 刚...就... like it's your favorite snack.

Don't use this if there is a long, intentional break between actions. If you ate lunch at 12:00 and went for a walk at 4:00, this pattern is not your friend. Using it would make you sound like you have a very strange concept of time. Also, avoid using it with general truths or habits. This pattern is for specific instances of things happening. You wouldn't say "I just wake up and then I just brush my teeth" as a general habit. It's for the "right now" or a specific "back then" moment. Think of it like a camera flash—it captures one quick moment, not a whole movie.

One big mistake is mixing up 刚 and 刚才. 刚才 is a noun that means "a moment ago." 刚 is an adverb. You can't say 我刚才就去. Stick to 刚 for this specific sequence. Another classic error is forgetting the 就. If you only say 我刚到下雨了, it sounds unfinished. It’s like saying "I just arrived rained." It feels choppy. Lastly, watch out for the subject. If Action A and Action B have different subjects, you need to place them correctly. Usually, the second subject goes right before 就. Even native speakers trip over this when they're in a rush, so don't sweat it too much!

You might know 一...就... which also means "as soon as." They are cousins, but not twins. 一...就... is more about a trigger and a result. It’s more "whenever A happens, B happens." 刚...就... is specifically about the timing of things that *just* occurred. Think of 一...就... as a rule (Whenever I drink coffee, I feel awake) and 刚...就... as a news report (I just drank coffee and then the phone rang). Also, don't confuse this with 就...了, which just means something happened earlier than expected. This pattern is strictly about the sequence of two events.