TSUMUGU · TOCFL 1 (est.) · 字
剛
剛 ＝ 岡 ＋ 刂
ㄍㄤ · gāng
adj/adv — hard, firm, unyielding; just now
字源 FORM — what the parts do
刂義a knife — hard enough to cut
岡 (gāng) — the rocky crest of a ridge — carries the sound. Add a knife (刂): an edge that cuts the hard stuff, hence firm, unbending — 剛強, 剛硬. Borrowed for time: the moment just cut off behind you, 剛才, 剛剛.
意 · Meanings
(本義)堅硬、剛強— hard, firm常用
→剛毅、剛正— unyielding, upright
⇒剛剛、剛才— just now, a moment ago常用
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension