当

• 拼音: dāng
• 汉字拆解: 当 = simplified from 當; original form contained 田 (field) + 尚 (still/yet)

含义

To serve as; to act as; when. Used to describe taking on a role or to indicate a point in time.

As a verb, 当 means to take on a role or position. As a preposition or conjunction, it introduces a time clause meaning 'when' or 'at the time of.' One of the most versatile function words in Chinese, appearing in many fixed expressions.

例句

1. 她当了三年的老师。
2. 我长大以后想当医生。
3. 当你有空的时候，给我打电话。

用法指南

语境: career, roles, time expressions

语气: neutral

正确说法

• 他当了十年的经理。(He served as manager for ten years.)
• 当我还是小孩的时候，我很怕黑。(When I was a child, I was afraid of the dark.)

错误说法

• 我当你是好人。(Don't use 当 to mean 'consider/regard as' in this way — use 觉得你是好人 or 把你当好人 instead.)

起源与历史

Simplified from 當. Originally related to a field (田) being equal or corresponding in value, evolving to mean 'to serve as' or 'to face.'

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal