相当

• Pinyin: xiāng dāng
• Hanzi breakdown: 相 = 木 (tree) + 目 (eye), meaning to observe mutually; 当 = simplified from 當, meaning to match or be equal to

Meaning

Quite; considerably; equivalent to. Used as an adverb to indicate a high degree, or as a verb meaning to be equivalent to.

As an adverb, 相当 indicates a higher degree than 比较 but less than 非常. It often carries a tone of surprise or emphasis. As a verb, it means 'to be equivalent to' or 'to correspond to.' Common in both spoken and written Chinese.

Examples

1. 他的中文水平相当高。 His Chinese proficiency is quite high.
2. 今天的考试相当难。 Today's exam was considerably difficult.
3. 这份工作的工资相当不错。 The salary for this job is quite good.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, evaluation, comparison

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 她跳舞跳得相当好。(She dances quite well.)
• 这两个价格相当。(These two prices are equivalent.)

Don't Say

• 我相当不喜欢。(Avoid using 相当 with 不喜欢 — it sounds awkward. Use 非常不喜欢 or 很不喜欢 for strong dislike)

Origin & History

相 (mutual, each other) + 当 (equal, match). Together they mean 'mutually matching' — i.e., equivalent or considerably.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal