当初 (dāng chū) — originally; at that time; in the beginning

Definition

当初 looks back to the starting point of a past event, often to contrast with how things turned out. It is more retrospective than 当时 ('at that time') and more focused on a past decision or situation than 原来.

noun
originallyat that timein the beginning

Examples

  • 当初
    Wǒ dāng chū méi xiǎng dào huì zhè me chéng gōng.
    I didn't expect it to be so successful at first.
  • 当初
    dāng chū De jué dìng xiàn zài kàn shì duì de.
    The decision made at that time now seems right.
  • 当初
    Tā dāng chū zhǐ shì yí gè pǔ tōng gōng rén.
    He was just an ordinary worker originally.

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