Definition
当时 (dāng shí) is the standard, neutral way to say 'at that time', referring to a specific past moment. Unlike 当年 (dāng nián), which highlights a particular year or era, and 当初 (dāng chū), which emphasizes the beginning of a past situation, 当时 is a general-purpose term for that point in time.
noun
at that timethen
Examples
- 当时。dāng shí wǒ hái bú rènshi tā.At that time I didn't know him yet.
- 当时。dāng shí wǒmen yǐjīng děng le hěn jiǔ.At that time we had already waited for a long time.
- 当时。dāng shí de qíngkuàng hěn fùzá.The situation at that time was very complicated.
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