Definitions
(verb)
to be; to act as; to serve as
(particle)
when; during; at the time of
(verb)
should; ought to
(verb)
to consider as; to regard as
(adjective)
suitable; appropriate; fitting
About
The character "当" derives from the traditional form "當", which combines the phonetic component "尚" with the semantic component "田", the latter originally associated with cultivated land and contributing to the character's early meanings of facing or opposing. Historically, the semantic range of "当" shifted from denoting equivalence or matching to encompassing concepts like bearing responsibility, undertaking tasks, and functioning as a grammatical marker for temporal locations such as "when". The simplified form "当" resulted from the abbreviation of the traditional character's structure, primarily through the removal of the "田" element, which occurred during the evolution of cursive writing styles.
Example Sentences Hide
当然，我喜欢你。
当我小时候，我住在北京。
他当司机已经十年了。
当你看电视时，我在看书。
当你遇到困难时，请告诉我。
她当律师的时候，处理过很多案件。
他把公司当自己的家。
当全球变暖成为焦点时，各国政府应当采取行动。