Learn 刚 vs 刚才 in Chinese + 内卷 & 摸鱼 Explained!

In today’s episode, we break down one of the most confusing time expressions for HSK3 learners: 刚 (gāng) vs 刚才 (gāngcái). You’ll learn how to talk naturally about things that just happened, with clear examples you can start using in real conversations immediately.

But that’s not all
We also dive into modern Chinese work culture, explaining two internet buzzwords that are everywhere in China today: 内卷 (nèijuǎn) and 摸鱼 (mōyú). Why do people complain about the never-ending competition at work? And why is “slacking off” suddenly not as bad as it seems? We explain it all with humour and real-life examples.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ The difference between 刚 and 刚才 and how to use them in context
✅ How to describe recent events naturally in Mandarin
✅ The meanings of 内卷 and 摸鱼 in modern Chinese work culture
✅ Cultural insights: why slacking off (摸鱼) is becoming acceptable in some contexts

Fun Fact:
Did you know that in Chinese, 内卷 (nèijuǎn) refers to the phenomenon of excessive competition, especially at work, while 摸鱼 (mōyú) is used to describe “slacking off” during work hours? These terms are often used in discussions about the pressures of modern life in China.

Question for You:
How would you say: “I just finished my work” in Chinese?
Write your answer in the comments and we’ll help you with corrections!

Mini Challenge:
Create your own sentence using 刚 or 刚才. For example:
• 我刚吃完饭。 (“I just finished eating.”)
• 刚才我去买东西了。 (“I just went to buy something.”)

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