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当真 (dàng zhēn) — (verb) to take (something) seriously, to treat as true; (adverb) really, truly (before a verb)

Definition

当真 is both a verb meaning 'to take seriously' (别当真) and an adverb meaning 'really, truly' (你当真要走吗?). 重视 is only the verb 'to value' and needs an object; 认真 describes a careful attitude, not believing something is true.

verb
to take (something) seriouslyto treat as true
adverb
reallytruly (before a verb)

Examples

  • 当真，。
    Bié dàng zhēn, wǒ gēn nǐ kāi wán xiào ne.
    Don't take it seriously; I'm just joking with you.
  • 当真？
    Nǐ dàng zhēn yào cí zhí ma?
    Are you really going to quit your job?
  • 当真，。
    Tā bǎ wǒ de jiàn yì dàng zhēn le, jié guǒ hěn hòu huǐ.
    He took my suggestion seriously and regretted it afterwards.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

当dāngtreat/regard
真zhēntrue/real

当 means to treat or regard, and 真 means true, so together they mean to regard something as true and take it seriously.

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.

Open 当 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
貝貝bèicowrie; shell
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠂈
𠂈𠂈真zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

真 pairs 貝 (cowrie shell, used for the meaning) with 𠂈, which gave the sound and originally drew a headlong fall.

Open 真 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Attitudes & Opinions

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.