BASIC MEANINGS OF 当
1. As / To be (as a role)
当 (dāng) = “to be” or “to work as (a job or role)”
Examples:
- 我想当老师。
(Wǒ xiǎng dāng lǎoshī.)
“I want to be a teacher.” - 他当了三年的医生。
(Tā dāng le sān nián de yīshēng.)
“He was a doctor for three years.”
2. When (something happens)
当…的时候 = “when…”
Examples:
- 当我到家的时候，天已经黑了。
(Dāng wǒ dào jiā de shíhòu, tiān yǐjīng hēi le.)
“When I got home, it was already dark.” - 当你累了，就休息一下吧。
(Dāng nǐ lèi le, jiù xiūxi yīxià ba.)
“When you’re tired, just take a rest.”
3. To act/treat as / regard as
当…看 / 当…对待 = “to treat as…”
Examples:
- 他把我当朋友。
(Tā bǎ wǒ dāng péngyǒu.)
“He treats me as a friend.” - 别把这件事当玩笑。
(Bié bǎ zhè jiàn shì dāng wánxiào.)
“Don’t treat this as a joke.”
4. To be in front of / face / confront
当着…的面 = “in front of someone”
Examples:
- 不要当着大家的面说这个。
(Bùyào dāngzhe dàjiā de miàn shuō zhè ge.)
“Don’t say that in front of everyone.”
5. To be appropriate / suitable (rare, literary)
当 (dàng) – different pronunciation
Example:
- 这件衣服不当穿去参加婚礼。
(Zhè jiàn yīfú bù dàng chuān qù cānjiā hūnlǐ.)
“This outfit is not suitable for a wedding.”
🎯 Practice Sentences (Fill in the blank)
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 当:
- 我以后想 ___ 医生。
- ___我出国的时候，我妈妈很担心。
- 他把我 ___ 孩子看待。
- 请不要 ___ 我面前说这些话。