How to Write 当 (dāng/dàng) — Meaning “To be; to act as; of course”

Picture a hand (彐) reaching up to turn on a small light (⺌) above a door. This action represents 'being' the one who turns on the light, which helps you remember the meaning 'to act as.' The small light also reminds you of the radical meaning 'small' or 'light.'

Write the radical ⺌ first (three strokes: dot, dot, and small downward stroke) then add the horizontal stroke and lower part. A common mistake is making the top part too wide or confusing it with 当 (which has a different bottom shape). Keep the top compact and the bottom balanced with a horizontal line ending in a small hook.

当 (dāng) has a top radical ⺌ (two dots and a small stroke) while 尚 (shàng) has a top radical ⺌ but with a different lower part: 尚 has 冂 (opening) and 同(inside), meaning 'still' or 'yet.' Visually, 当 is shorter and more compressed, while 尚 is taller with an enclosed area. For example, 上当 means 'to be cheated,' but 高尚 means 'noble'—never confuse the two.

当 appears in everyday phrases like 当然 ('of course') to show certainty, and 当时 ('at that time') to refer to past moments. It is also used in 上当 ('to be fooled'), which literally means 'to get onto a trap,' reflecting a cultural idiom about being tricked. In compound words, 当 often indicates a role or moment, making it essential for HSK 2 learners.

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.