Definition
当 (dāng) has two common uses: as a verb 'to act as' (e.g., "work as a teacher"), and as a preposition 'at the time when'. As a verb, 当 is less formal than 为 (wéi), which is more written; 充当 (chōng dāng) adds a nuance of 'playing a role'. As a time preposition, 当 refers to a specific time point, while 正在 (zhèng zài) describes an action ongoing at that moment.
verb
to act asto serve asto be
preposition
at (a time)whenduring
Easily confused
- 当dànglook-alike(onomatopoeia) dong, ding-dong (bell sound)
- 挡dǎngsound-aliketo block, to obstruct; to get in the way of
- 扫sǎolook-aliketo sweep
- 党dǎngsound-alike(noun) political party
- 寻xúnlook-aliketo search, to look for, to seek
- 归guīlook-aliketo return, to go back
- 雪xuělook-alikesnow
Examples
- 当。Wǒ dāng le sān nián lǎoshī.I worked as a teacher for three years.
- 当，。dāng nǐ dào de shíhou, gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.When you arrive, give me a call.
- 当。Tā dāng yīshēng yǐjīng shí nián le.He has been a doctor for ten years already.
Grammar
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