Chinese word

当时

Pronunciation

Pinyindāng shí

Meaning

  • adverbat that time

Example

当时我不知道怎么办。dāng shí wǒ bù zhī dào zěn me bàn

At that time, I didn't know what to do.

Illustration for 当时 (at that time)

More examples

当时我正在上班。dāng shí wǒ zhèng zài shàng bān

At that time, I was working.

Core concept

A spotlight on one earlier moment or period, showing the situation there.

Common phrases

  • 当时不知道dāng shí bù zhī dào

    not know at that time

  • 当时想dāng shí xiǎng

    thought at that time

  • 当时已经dāng shí yǐ jīng

    already at that time

Similar words

那时nà shí: Refers to a specific past time in ordinary conversation.
那时候nà shí hòu: Refers to a past time or period in a relaxed, conversational way.

Definition in Chinese

用于指过去某一时间点或时间段，表示在那个时候正在发生或曾经存在的情况的时间副词。yòng yú zhǐ guò qù mǒu yì shí jiān diǎn huò shí jiān duàn biǎo shì zài nà ge shí hòu zhèng zài fā shēng huò céng jīng cún zài de qíng kuàng de shí jiān fù cí

Word origin

当时 (dāngshí, "at that time") combines 当 (dāng, "the relevant or fitting") with 时 (shí, "time"), marking the time being referred to.

Usage tips

  • English then can point to a next step, while 当时 (dāngshí, "at that time") points back to a past scene.

Other meanings

  • back thenadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word