当
bear
At a glance · 当
Evolution of the glyph
Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.
Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE
⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.
「当」本从田从尚，小篆从田尚声作形声，后简化为当。
What the sketch shows
Origins & notes
「当」本义为两块田相当、对等，引申担当、应当。
Structure
从田、尚声，属形声兼会意，表示两两相当、承担。
At a glance
Pinyindāng
Radical彐
Strokes6
UnicodeU+5F53
Character type会意
Theme虚词
Six languages, one character
Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.
English
bear
bear, accept, undertake; just
Français
devoir / convenable
Il faut, est approprié. «孝当竭力» : on doit s'efforcer à la piété filiale.
Español
deber / conviene
Deber, ser apropiado. «孝当竭力»: debe esforzarse en la piedad filial.
العربية
يجب / ينبغي
يجب أن؛ يكون لائقاً. في «孝当竭力» يعني أن على المرء بذل جهده في البرّ بالوالدين.
Русский
следует / надлежит
Следует, подобает. «孝当竭力»: надлежит всеми силами чтить родителей.
Common words
- 应当yīng dāngshould
- 当然dāng ránof course