当
Character learning workspace

dāng / dàng · appropriate, timely

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 2.0 · Level 4HSK 3.0 · Level 4Frequency #155
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Learn every stroke in 当

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Sound changes meaning

Readings & meanings

当 has 2 dictionary pronunciations. The examples show how each reading behaves in real words.

dāng

(onom.) dong; ding dong (bell); to be; to act as

当然dāng rán · only natural
dàng

at or in the very same...; suitable; adequate

当成dàng chéng · to consider as
Step-by-step explorer

See how 当 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Character anatomy

Understand the reusable parts

The decomposition shows how the visual pieces fit together, not necessarily the character’s historical origin.

Writing notes

Shape and proportion

6Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Top-bottomCharacter structure

Keep the upper section balanced above the lower section.

⺌Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 当 writing sheet

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 当

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

dāng(onom.) dong; ding dong (bell); to be; to act as
dàngat or in the very same...; suitable; adequate
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 当 sits in each complete thought.

Nà dāng rán, shì wǒ zuò de.那当然,是我做的。

Well, of course, I did that.

Source: Tatoeba #9779577 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā bǎ zì jǐ dàngchéng le zhè lǐ de zhǔ rén.他把自己当成了这里的主人。

He acted like he owned the place.

Source: Tatoeba #1876023 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā dāng shí yí gè rén zài jiā.他当时一个人在家。

He was home alone at the time.

Source: Tatoeba #472857 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Nǐ shì wǒ de shēng mìng dāng zhōng zuì zhòng yào de rén.你是我的生命当中最重要的人。

You are the most important person in my life.

Source: Tatoeba #1315976 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā bǎ tā de huà dàngzuò shì yì zhǒng zàn měi.他把她的话当作是一种赞美。

He took her words as a compliment.

Source: Tatoeba #461624 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Wǒ xiāng dāng yǒu zì xìn wǒ néng zuò dào zhè yì diǎn.我相当有自信我能做到这一点。

I'm fairly confident that I can do that.

Source: Tatoeba #8792042 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 当 in context

  1. Say dāng / dàng, then recall the core meaning: appropriate, timely.
  2. Write all 6 strokes while keeping the top-bottom balanced.
  3. Use it in 当然 (dāng rán), meaning “only natural”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 当 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.