当 Stroke Order — How to Write 当
当 is written in 6 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical ⺌, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
当 Radical and Character Components
Components:⺌彐
Radical: ⺌ + 3 more strokes
当 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- dāng
- dàng
- dang
Meanings of 当 in Chinese
1
dāng当
To act as; to serve as; to undertake (a duty or role).
他决定当一名志愿者，帮助社区居民。
He decided to serve as a volunteer and help community residents.
To be in charge of; to manage; to preside over (e.g., a household or an organization)
他从小就学会了当家。
He learned to manage the household from a young age.
Used to denote 'at that time or place', 'currently', or 'immediately/on the spot'.
听到这个消息，他当即决定动身
Upon hearing the news, he immediately decided to set off.
To face; to confront; at the moment of; just when (e.g., making a decision or facing a challenge).
面对问题时，他总是能当机立断，快速解决。
When facing problems, he can always make prompt decisions and solve them quickly.
To be equal or well-matched in terms of ability, strength, or status.
这两个队的实力相当，比赛结果很难预料。
The strength of these two teams is equal, and the outcome of the game is difficult to predict.
should; ought to; to be proper or fitting
我们应当遵守交通规则。
We should obey traffic rules.
To be equal to; to be a match for; to withstand (e.g., a challenge or a large force).
他一人能当好几个人的工作。
He alone can do the work of several people.
To sentence; to punish, meaning to impose a corresponding penalty, often used in rhetorical questions about what crime someone deserves.
他这种行为，该当何罪？
For this kind of behavior, what crime should he be punished for?
Top or head, referring to the end or uppermost part of something, typically seen in compound words like '瓦当' (wǎdāng), meaning 'tile-end'.
古建筑上的瓦当，图案精美，很有历史感。
The eave tiles on ancient buildings feature exquisite patterns and carry a strong sense of history.
Onomatopoeia for the sound of metal clashing or a bell ringing.
钟声当当地响起来。
The bell rang with a 'clang-clang' sound.
2
dàng当
Appropriate; suitable; proper.
我觉得这样处理很当。
I think this way of handling it is very appropriate.
to be equal to; to be worth; to serve as (e.g., one person doing the work of multiple people)
他一个人当三个人用。
He does the work of three people.
To treat or consider something as something else; to take or use something as a substitute for something else.
他把阅读当做放松身心的方式。
He regards reading as a way to relax his mind and body.
To assume; to consider; to take for granted.
我当你是个信守承诺的人。
I take you for a person who keeps their promises.
Refers to a specific time or period, indicating 'that very' or 'in those days'.
当年的电影票很便宜。
Movie tickets back then were very cheap.
To be fooled, taken in, or cheated (often in the context of '上当' meaning to fall for a trick).
他因为粗心大意而上当受骗了。
He was fooled and cheated because of his carelessness.
To pawn or mortgage (an item) as security for a loan.
为了筹集医药费，他不得不把家中值钱的东西都典当了
To raise medical expenses, he had no choice but to pawn all the valuable items in his home.
3
dang当
An archaic suffix attached to personal pronouns, used to emphasize the pronoun, similar to 'indeed' or 'certainly' in English, as seen in classical phrases like '吾当' (I, indeed).
吾当信守诺言，绝不食言。
I shall indeed keep my promise, never breaking my word.
Common Words and Phrases with 当
1
To be on duty or on a shift, working according to a set schedule.
今晚轮到我当班，所以不能和你们一起去电影院了。
It's my turn to be on duty tonight, so I can't go to the cinema with you all.
2
To be a soldier or serve in the army.
他决定高中毕业后就去当兵，体验不同的生活
He decided to join the army after graduating from high school to experience a different kind of life.
3
To serve as a low-ranking official or a servant; a manservant (old term).
他年轻时曾在一家大户人家当差，负责打理府内杂务。
When he was young, he worked as a servant in a wealthy family, responsible for managing various household chores within the estate.
4
5
To make a fool of oneself in public; to make an embarrassing display in front of others.
她在汇报演示时忘记了关键数据，当场出丑，尴尬得脸都红了
She forgot key data during her presentation, making a fool of herself on the spot and blushing with embarrassment.
6
The current reigning dynasty or the emperor/government currently in power.
当朝的名医，医术高超，远近闻名。
The renowned physician of the current era possessed remarkable medical skills and was famous far and wide.
7
8
Originally; at that time; at the very beginning.
我当初以为这个项目会很简单，没想到这么复杂
I originally thought this project would be very simple, but I didn't expect it to be so complicated.
9
The contemporary era.
当代社会面临着许多新的挑战和机遇。
Contemporary society faces many new challenges and opportunities.
10
To pawn (an item) for a loan, especially in old-fashioned pawnshops.
他手头紧，只好把祖传的玉佩拿去当当，暂时渡过难关。
He was short on cash, so he had no choice but to pawn his ancestral jade pendant to tide over the difficult period temporarily.
11
To be in power (often with negative implications) or to obstruct the way.
他家的宠物狗总是喜欢当道睡觉，让人走路都得小心翼翼。
His pet dog always likes to sleep in the way, making people walk carefully.
12
13
To let something go in one ear and out the other; to pay no attention to what is said.
他总是把别人的好心建议当耳边风，结果常常自己吃亏。
He always lets good-hearted advice from others go in one ear and out the other, often suffering the consequences himself.
14
to be an official; to serve as an official
他从小就梦想着有一天能当官，为民服务。
From a young age, he dreamed of one day becoming an official and serving the public.
15
To guard a pass or gate.
古代，一些重要的隘口常有勇士当关，以确保安全。
In ancient times, important passes often had brave warriors guarding them to ensure safety.
More words with 当
- xiāng相dāng当Quite, Fairly
- yīng应dāng当should; ought to
- chōng充dāng当to serve as; to act as
- shì适dàng当Suitable; proper; appropriate.
- chéng承dāng当undertake, assume
- dān担dāng当to take on or assume responsibility
- dīng叮dāng当ding-dong
- gāi该dāng当Deserve; ought to; should.
- gān甘dāng当Willing to be, Voluntarily serve as
- jiā家dàng当possessions, property
- jīng精dàng当precise and appropriate
- kuài快dāng当soon, quickly
- láng郎dāng当Sloppy, Clumsy
- lǐ理dāng当It is proper, Should be
- qià恰dàng当appropriate or suitable
- què确dàng当correct and appropriate; proper
- shī失dàng当improper or inappropriate
- shú赎dàng当to redeem an item from a pawnshop
- shùn顺dāng当smooth, successful
- tuǒ妥dàng当appropriate and proper
Idioms with 当
- dāng当chǎng场chū出cǎi彩expose one's flaws publicly
- dāng当chǎng场xiàn献chǒu丑make a fool of oneself in public
- dāng当duàn断bù不duàn断indecisive when a firm decision is required
- dàng当ěr耳páng旁fēng风disregard what is said
- dāng当jī机lì立duàn断make a prompt and decisive decision
- dāng当jiā家zuò作zhǔ主to be master of one's own affairs
- dāng当jiā家zuò做zhǔ主be master of one's own affairs
- dāng当jú局zhě者mí迷The participant is confused
- dāng当lì立zhī之nián年age of establishing oneself
- dāng当miàn面cuò错guò过miss an obvious opportunity
- dāng当miàn面xiàn献chǒu丑make a fool of oneself in public
- dāng当rén仁bù不ràng让shoulder a just responsibility without hesitation
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Open the tool →Questions about 当
What does 当 mean in Chinese?
当 (dāng) means “To act as” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 当?
当 has 3 pronunciations: dāng, dàng, dang.
How many strokes does 当 have?
当 has 6 strokes.
How do you write 当?
当 is written in 6 strokes, starting from the radical ⺌. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 当?
The radical of 当 is ⺌.