(dāng) — (verb) to act as, to serve as, to be; (preposition) at (a time), when, during

Definition

当 (dāng) as a preposition means 'when / at the time of', introducing a time clause. As a verb it means 'to serve as / act as' — equivalent to 充当. Compare 当…的时候 for time vs 在…的时候.

verb
to act asto serve asto be
preposition
at (a time)whenduring

Examples

  • Wǒ dāng le sān nián lǎo shī.
    I worked as a teacher for three years.
  • dāng Nǐ dào de shí hou, gěi wǒ dǎ diàn huà.
    When you arrive, give me a call.
  • Tā dāng yī shēng yǐ jīng shí nián le.
    He has been a doctor for ten years already.

Grammar

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