Chinese word dictionary

当初

dāngchū · at that time; originally

Practice word

Word information

Simplified当初

Traditional當初

Pinyindāngchū

Part of speech名

HSK 3.06

HSK 2.06

Character breakdown

Study each Hanzi separately, then return to the complete word so pronunciation, meaning, and movement stay connected.

当dāng

appropriate, timely; to act, to serve; the sound of bells

初chū

beginning, initial, primary

How to learn 当初

Listen once without reading, repeat the pinyin with its tones, then write every character in sequence. Finally, recall the complete meaning instead of memorizing each character as an isolated translation.

When the word appears in a sentence, check whether its part of speech and meaning match the definition shown here. Chinese words can change nuance with context.

Related vocabulary

Words with the same characters

Compare how a familiar Hanzi changes meaning inside another word.

初中chūzhōng

junior high school (abbr. for 初級中學|初级中学[chu1 ji2 zhong1 xue2])

当然dāngrán

only natural; as it should be; certainly; of course; without doubt

当dāng

(onom.) dong; ding dong (bell); to be; to act as; manage; withstand; when; during; ought; should; match equally; equal; same; obstruct; just at (a time or place); on the spot; right; just at

当时dāngshí

then; at that time; while

初chū

at first; (at the) beginning; first; junior; basic

初级chūjí

junior; primary