当地 (dāng dì) — local (of a specific place); this locality | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

当地 means 'local' as a noun for a specific place's people, customs, or government. 地区 names a broader area or administrative region, while 本地 is a near-synonym but slightly more colloquial.

noun

local (of a specific place)this locality

Examples

当地。
Wǒ qù dāng dì de shì chǎng mǎi le xiē shuǐ guǒ.
I went to the local market and bought some fruit.
当地。
dāng dì De fēng sú hé wǒ men nà lǐ hěn bù yí yàng.
The local customs are very different from ours.
当地。
dāng dì Zhèng fǔ zhèng zài xiū jiàn yì tiáo xīn mǎ lù.
The local government is building a new road.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

当dāngthis/local

当 points to the place in question, and 地 names locality; together it means local.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 當; 当 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

田田tiánfield

Sound part声符shēngfú

尚

尚shàng當dāng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 當 combines 田 (field) with 尚; the evidence describes fields facing each other.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

土也地

Meaning part形符xíngfú

土土tǔearth

Sound part声符shēngfú

也

也yě地dì

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

地 is built from 土 (earth) and 也, which gives its sound.

Appears in

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