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当初 (dāng chū) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 6

当初 (dāng chū) is a Chinese word: originally/at first. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 当初

名 míng noun

originally/at first

我当初就不该答应他。

wǒ dāng chū jiù bù gāi dā ying tā

I shouldn't have agreed to him in the first place.

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Word breakdown

当 dāng — at that time/during

Words with this character (28)
  • 1 当然 dāng rán — of course HSK 3
    • 当 should be, ought to be
    • 然 so, like that (indicating natural state)
    Example

    当然，我很愿意帮助你。

    dāng rán wǒ hěn yuàn yì bāng zhù nǐ

    Of course, I'm very willing to help you.

  • 2 当时 dāng shí — at that time HSK 4
    • 当 that particular (time)
    • 时 time, moment
    Example

    当时我还是个学生。

    dāng shí wǒ hái shì gè xué shēng

    At that time, I was still a student.

  • 3 应当 yīng dāng — should, ought to HSK 5
    • 应 should, ought to (expressing duty or appropriateness)
    • 当 proper, appropriate (reinforces the sense of what is fitting)
    Example

    我们应当尊重他人的意见。

    wǒ men yīng dāng zūn zhòng tā rén de yì jiàn

    We should respect others' opinions.

  • 4 当中 dāng zhōng — among HSK 5
    • 当 at the position of
    • 中 middle, within
    Example

    我们当中有人会说英语。

    wǒ men dāng zhōng yǒu rén huì shuō yīng yǔ

    Among us, someone can speak English.

  • 5 当前 dāng qián — current HSK 5
    • 当 at the time of; during
    • 前 before; ahead (in temporal sense)
    Example

    当前最重要的任务是完成这个项目。

    dāng qián zuì zhòng yào de rèn wu shì wán chéng zhè ge xiàng mù

    The most important task at present is to complete this project.

Show more (+23)

初 chū — beginning/start

Words with this character (9)
Show more (+4)
  • 6 初步 chū bù — preliminary HSK 6
    • 初 initial, first, beginning
    • 步 step, stage
    Example

    我们已经达成了初步协议。

    wǒ men yǐ jīng dá chéng le chū bù xié yì

    We have reached a preliminary agreement.

  • 7 初等 chū děng — elementary HSK 6
    • 初 beginning, initial
    • 等 grade, level, class
    Example

    他在初等学校教数学。

    tā zài chū děng xué xiào jiāo shù xué

    He teaches mathematics at elementary school.

  • 8 起初 qǐ chū — at first HSK 6
    • 起 beginning, starting point
    • 初 initial, first
    Example

    起初我不喜欢这个城市，但现在我爱上了它。

    qǐ chū wǒ bù xǐ huan zhè ge chéng shì dàn xiàn zài wǒ ài shàng le tā

    At first I didn't like this city, but now I've fallen in love with it.

  • 9 初衷 chū zhōng — original intention HSK 7
    • 初 original, initial
    • 衷 heartfelt intention, sincere feeling
    Example

    他始终坚守自己的初衷。

    tā shǐ zhōng jiān shǒu zì jǐ de chū zhōng

    He always adheres to his original intention.

Structure & writing
1 当 dāng — to serve as; to act as
Xpinyin
当 is a component in 2 characters
HSK 5
挡 dǎng to block, obstruct; to shield 档 dàng shelving or cabinet with compartments for storing files

consists of

1.1 ⺌ guāng — small, tiny
⺌ is a component in 6 characters
HSK 3
当 dāng to serve as; to act as
HSK 4
光 guāng light (visible or invisible radiation such as sunlight, lamplight, moonlight, infrared or ultraviolet rays); also called 光波 or 光线
HSK 5
肖 xiào to resemble, to look like 锁 suǒ lock (metal device requiring a key, code, or card to open)
HSK 6
尚 shàng to revere; to value highly
HSK 7
琐 suǒ trivial, trifling, petty
1.2 彐 jì — pig's head radical; bristled snout shape
彐 is a component in 18 characters
HSK 1
事 shì matter; affair; everything that happens in nature and society 雪 xuě snow (white crystalline precipitation, typically hexagonal, formed when water vapor freezes below 0°C)
HSK 2
妻 qī wife (opposite of 夫)
HSK 3
当 dāng to serve as; to act as 扫 sǎo to sweep away dust or garbage with a broom
HSK 5
妇 fù married woman; general term for woman 寻 xún ancient unit of length equal to eight chi (also said to be seven or six chi) 录 lù to record; to copy down 慧 huì intelligent; wise 灵 líng flexible; nimble; agile
HSK 6
兼 jiān doubled; combining two portions into one
HSK 7
侵 qīn to invade, to encroach on others' rights 寝 qǐn to sleep 帚 zhǒu broom; tool for sweeping away dust, dirt, and grime 庸 yōng ordinary; mediocre 浸 jìn to soak in liquid; to steep
Show more HSK 7 characters (+2)
秉 bǐng (lit.) to hold; to grasp 虐 nüè cruel and vicious

Stroke order

2 初 chū — beginning; initial

初 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

2.1 衤 yī — clothing/garment radical
衤 is a component in 13 characters
HSK 2
裤 kù trousers; pants worn below the waist with two legs
HSK 3
初 chū beginning; initial 衫 shān upper garment, unlined jacket 衬 chèn to line with a layer underneath or inside 被 bèi a surname 裙 qún skirt (–子, –儿)
HSK 4
袜 wà sock; stocking (garment worn on the foot, not directly touching the ground)
HSK 5
补 bǔ to mend or repair something damaged
HSK 6
袖 xiù sleeve (of a garment) 裕 yù abundant, ample
HSK 7
袍 páo long robe; gown 袱 fu cloth used for wrapping or covering 裸 luǒ to be naked, bare (the body)
2.2 刀 dāo — knife; cutting tool used for slicing, cutting, or chopping
刀 is a component in 12 characters
HSK 1
分 fēn to divide; to separate (opposite of 合)
HSK 3
初 chū beginning; initial 解 jiě to split open; to separate
HSK 4
切 qiē to cut (with a knife, dividing into parts)
HSK 5
剪 jiǎn scissors; a cutting tool with two crossing blades 召 zhào to summon, to call
HSK 6
券 quàn ticket, voucher, or certificate 梁 liáng beam; horizontal load-bearing timber or structural member
HSK 7
劈 pī to chop or split open with a knife or axe 叨 dāo (colloq.) to talk endlessly; to chatter on and on (see "叨叨") 契 qì (lit.) to carve with a knife 寡 guǎ widowed (of a woman)

Stroke order