Chinese word

刚好

Pronunciation

Pinyingāng hǎo

Meaning

  • adverbjust

Example

现在刚好八点，我们可以走了。xiàn zài gāng hǎo bā diǎn wǒ men ké yǐ zǒu le

It is just eight o'clock now, so we can leave.

Illustration for 刚好 (just)

More examples

我刚好没带伞，结果被雨淋了。wǒ gāng hǎo méi dài sǎn jié guǒ bèi yǔ lín le

I just happened not to bring an umbrella, so I got soaked in the rain.

Core concept

A situation lands exactly on the point needed, often because separate conditions happen to meet.

Common phrases

  • 刚好没带gāng hǎo méi dài

    happen not to have brought it

  • 刚好在场gāng hǎo zài chǎng

    happen to be present

Similar words

正好zhèng hǎo: Shows that a time or situation fits perfectly and conveniently.
恰巧qià qiǎo: Shows that an exact result occurs through an accidental coincidence.
恰好qià hǎo: Shows that a time or condition matches precisely.

Definition in Chinese

表示事情恰巧符合某个条件或发生，侧重于“偶然凑巧”这一层面，也可用于表示正好达到某一限度。biǎo shì shì qíng qià qiǎo fú hé mǒu gè tiáo jiàn huò fā shēng cè zhòng yú ǒu rán còu qiǎo zhè yì céng miàn yě kě yòng yú biǎo shì zhèng hǎo dá dào mǒu yí xiàn dù

Word origin

刚 (gāng, "exactly or only just") + 好 (hǎo, "good or suitable") forms a compound for a situation that fits a point neatly.

Usage tips

  • English divides this idea across different expressions, while Chinese uses one adverb for both an accidental match and a suitable limit.

Other meanings

  • just rightadjective
  • happen toadverb

Opposites

  • 不巧bù qiǎounfortunatelyadverb

Word lists with this word