Chinese word

当场

Pronunciation

Pinyindāng chǎng

Meaning

  • adverbon the spot

Example

他当场承认了错误。tā dāng chǎng chéng rèn le cuò wù

He admitted his mistake on the spot.

Illustration for 当场 (on the spot)

More examples

遇到危急情况，目击者马上当场报警并配合取证。yù dào wēi jí qíng kuàng mù jī zhě mǎ shàng dāng chǎng bào jǐng bìng pèi hé qǔ zhèng

When witnesses encounter an emergency, they immediately call the police on the spot and help collect evidence.

Core concept

The event site becomes the point where an action or response happens without delay.

Common phrases

  • 当场报警dāng chǎng bào jǐng

    call the police on the spot

  • 当场取证dāng chǎng qǔ zhèng

    collect evidence on the spot

Similar words

马上mǎ shàng: Happening right away or very soon after the present moment.
立刻lì kè: Describing a reaction or action carried out in a very short time.
立即lì jí: Describing an action carried out immediately and decisively.
随即suí jí: Occurring with almost no pause after a preceding event.

Definition in Chinese

表示在事发地点或事情发生的当时立即发生某动作或表现某种状态，强调在现场立刻进行。biǎo shì zài shì fā dì diǎn huò shì qíng fā shēng dí dàng shí lì jí fā shēng mǒu dòng zuò huò biǎo xiàn móu zhǒng zhuàng tài qiáng diào zài xiàn chǎng lì kè jìn xíng

Word origin

当场 (dāngchǎng, "on the spot") combines 当 (dāng, "that time") + 场 (chǎng, "place or setting"), joining the relevant moment to the place where it occurs.

Usage tips

  • Unlike a general statement about speed, this adverb highlights that the response happens while the event is still unfolding.

Other meanings

  • at the sceneadverb
  • immediatelyadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word