当差 (dāng) — (in old China) serve as a petty official or orderly; be on duty; perform one's duties
Definition
Historical/archaic term: in old China, 'to serve as a low-ranking orderly or petty official', typically delivering documents or running errands at a yamen. In modern use, 当差 simply means 'to be on duty' (e.g., on shift at the office).
verb
(in old China) serve as a petty official or orderlybe on dutyperform one's duties
Examples
- 当差，。Tā zài xiàn yá men lǐ dāng, fù zé sòng gōng wén.He served as an orderly in the county yamen, responsible for delivering official documents.
- ，。Yǐ qián tā zài gōng lǐ dāng guò chà, jiàn guò hěn duō dà rén wù.He used to serve in the palace and met many important figures.
- 当差，。Jīn tiān lún dào tā zài bàn gōng shì dāng, bù néng zǎo zǒu.Today it's his turn to be on duty in the office, so he can't leave early.
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