當 (dāng) - To act as & to serve as

當Tone 1

dāng ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

當 · dāng

To act as;

to serve as;

to be;

to manage;

to undertake;

to bear;

to accept;

to deserve;

to pawn;

to mortgage;

also used to indicate time or occasion.

To act asto serve asto be

Usage highlights

Serve asAt that timeBe in chargeBe appropriateUndertake responsibilityPawnshop

Synonyms

  • 任— to appoint; to serve as
  • 担— to bear; to undertake
  • 充— to serve as; to act as

Antonyms

  • 卸— to unload; to remove from office
  • 辞— to resign; to decline

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He serves as the class monitor (当班长).
  • This is the right time to act (当其时).
  • She is responsible for managing the project (当项目).
  • He pawned his watch for cash (当手表).

Collocations

  • Serve as(当)
  • At that time(当时)
  • Be in charge(当权)
  • Be appropriate(得当)
  • Undertake responsibility(担当)
  • Pawnshop(当铺)

Idioms

  • To take on a heavy responsibility(当仁不让)
  • To meet force with force(以牙还牙，以眼还眼; also 当仁不让 in some contexts)
  • To act as if no one else is around(旁若无人; also 当众出丑 in some contexts)
  • To be in one's prime(当年勇)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically used in contexts of responsibility and moral duty, as in Confucian ethics.
  • Commonly appears in idioms related to seizing opportunity or facing challenges.
  • The character's structure reflects a sense of balance and appropriateness.

FAQ