当 (dāng) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 当 (dāng) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 当 (dāng) means "To be; to act as; of course". It is an HSK Level 2 character, with 6 strokes and the radical ⺌.

Q: How do you write 当 stroke by stroke?

当 has 6 strokes. The radical is ⺌. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 当 and 尚?

当 (dāng) and 尚 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 当?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical ⺌. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 当?

Common words containing 当 include: 当然 (dāng rán) — Of course; certainly; 当时 (dāng shí) — At that time; then; 上当 (shàng dàng) — be fooled / be cheated.

How to Write 当

The character 当 (dāng) is written with 6 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical ⺌ is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

当 is pronounced dāng in Mandarin Chinese. It means To be; to act as; of course.

This is a polyphonic character with readings: dāng, dàng.

As an HSK Level 2 character, 当 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 当

当然 dāng rán

Of course; certainly

当时 dāng shí

At that time; then

上当 shàng dàng

be fooled / be cheated

妥当 tuǒ dàng

proper; appropriate

Example Sentences

朋友有困难，我当然要帮忙。

péng yǒu yǒu kùn nán wǒ dāng rán yào bāng máng

When a friend is in trouble, of course I should help.

他当时没想那么多就答应了。

tā dāng shí méi xiǎng nà me duō jiù dā yìng le

He agreed at the time without thinking too much about it.

我们要提高警惕，防止上当受骗。

wǒ men yào tí gāo jǐng tì fáng zhǐ shàng dàng shòu piàn

We must stay vigilant to avoid being deceived.

这件事情处理得非常妥当。

zhè jiàn shì qíng chǔ lǐ dé fēi cháng tuǒ dàng

This matter was handled very appropriately.

Similar Characters

尚 shàng

Practice Writing 当 (dāng)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 当 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 当

What does 当 (dāng) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 当 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 当 and 尚?

What mistakes do learners make writing 当?

What common words use 当?

How to Write 当 (dāng)