当
to be/work as; when; to serve as
dāng
What does 当 mean?
当 (dāng) is a high-frequency word with several core uses. As a verb it means 'to be / work as / serve as' a role or profession: 当老师 ('be a teacher'), 当兵 ('serve in the army'). As a time word it frames 'when / at the time of' in the pattern 当...的时候 ('when...'): 当我到家的时候 ('when I got home').
It can also mean 'to face / in the presence of' (当着大家的面, 'in front of everyone'). English speakers should note two things: first, 当 for a profession replaces English 'become / work as' with a single verb — 我想当医生 ('I want to be a doctor'); second, the character has a second reading dàng meaning 'to regard/treat as' (把它当成真的, 'treat it as real') and 'appropriate' (恰当). Choosing the reading is contextual. 当 is neutral in register and appears constantly in both speech and writing.
Note: 当 has two readings. dāng (verb/preposition): to serve as, to work as, when/at the time of. dàng: to regard as, to treat as, appropriate
Character breakdown
dāng: to serve as, when, to face; dàng: to regard as, appropriate
Example sentences
我长大以后想当老师。
Wǒ zhǎngdà yǐhòu xiǎng dāng lǎoshī.
When I grow up I want to be a teacher.
spoken
当我回到家的时候，天已经黑了。
Dāng wǒ huídào jiā de shíhou, tiān yǐjīng hēi le.
By the time I got home, it was already dark.
neutral
有话当面说清楚。
Yǒu huà dāngmiàn shuō qīngchu.
If you have something to say, say it clearly to my face.
spoken
他大学毕业后去当兵了。
Tā dàxué bìyè hòu qù dāng bīng le.
After graduating from college, he joined the army.
neutral
Common phrases with 当
Synonyms
Don't confuse 当 with
FAQ
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