Definition
当 (dàng) is an onomatopoeia for the deep, resonant sound of a bell or gong, like 'dong' or 'ding-dong'. It is used in writing to describe the sound of a large bell (e.g., a temple bell) or a doorbell, often reduplicated as 当当.
onomatopoeia
dongding-dong (bell sound)
Easily confused
- 当dānglook-alike(verb) to act as, to serve as, to be
- 挡dǎngsound-aliketo block, to obstruct; to get in the way of
- 扫sǎolook-aliketo sweep
- 党dǎngsound-alike(noun) political party
- 寻xúnlook-aliketo search, to look for, to seek
- 归guīlook-aliketo return, to go back
- 雪xuělook-alikesnow
Examples
- 。Lóu xià de zhōng dàng dàng de xiǎng le sì xià.The bell downstairs went dong-dong four times.
- 当，。Yuǎn chù chuán lái dàng de yì shēng, hǎoxiàng shì sìmiào de zhōng.From afar came a 'dong' sound, as if from a temple bell.
- ，。xuéxiào de zhōng dàng dàng de xiǎng le jǐ shēng, tíxǐng wǒmen gāi shàngkè le.The school bell went dong-dong a few times, reminding us that it was time for class.
Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.