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得当 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
得当dédàngappropriateHSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #15033, Very Hard
得当dédàngsuitableHSK 7, unknown, 17 strokes, rank #15033, Very Hard
dédàng(de2dang4)de dang T2
  1. 1appropriate
  2. 2suitable
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March 24, 2026

得当(得當)dédàng(de2dang4)

得当 (de2 dang4) means appropriate or suitable, often used to describe actions, decisions, or situations that are fitting or well-matched. It conveys the idea of being correct in context, and is commonly used in both formal and informal settings to evaluate whether something meets the necessary standards or requirements.

Strokes17Frequency#15033DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the appropriateness of an action or response is highly valued, particularly in social and business contexts. Using 得当 reflects a person's ability to navigate these expectations.

Memory tip

Imagine a teacher (得) giving a thumbs up (当) to a student who answers a question correctly. This thumbs up represents appropriateness, as the answer is '得当' for the question asked.

Meanings of 得当

dédàng(de2dang4)
1appropriate
2suitable
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 得当

得当Simplified
得當Traditional
17Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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AI study notes for 得当

Quick Contrast

合适 (héshì) — use 得当 when emphasizing correctness in context, while 合适 focuses more on general suitability.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 得当 with similar words like 适合 (shìhé), which also means suitable but can imply a more personal fit. This term is often used in formal contexts, so ensure you're using it where a level of professionalism is expected.

HSK Study Tips

While 得当 is not an HSK word, it connects with HSK Level 4 vocabulary related to evaluation and description, such as 合适 (héshì) meaning suitable. Focus on how to use 得当 in sentences to describe appropriateness in various scenarios.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 得当 in casual speech when a simpler word like 合适 would suffice. For example, saying '这件衣服得当' instead of '这件衣服合适' can sound overly formal.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 得当

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Component characters

得destructural particle: used after a verb (or adjective as main verb), linking it to following phrase indicating effect, degree, possibility etc
HSK 211 strokes彳
View full entry
当dāngto act as
HSK 46 strokes⺌
View full entry

How to say appropriate in Chinese

“appropriate” in Chinese is得当dédàng

得当 (de2 dang4) means appropriate or suitable, often used to describe actions, decisions, or situations that are fitting or well-matched. It conveys the idea of being correct in context, and is commonly used in both formal and informal settings to evaluate whether something meets the necessary standards or requirements.

When to use 得当

Be careful not to confuse 得当 with similar words like 适合 (shìhé), which also means suitable but can imply a more personal fit. This term is often used in formal contexts, so ensure you're using it where a level of professionalism is expected.

得当 or something close to it

合适 (héshì) — use 得当 when emphasizing correctness in context, while 合适 focuses more on general suitability.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 得当 in casual speech when a simpler word like 合适 would suffice. For example, saying '这件衣服得当' instead of '这件衣服合适' can sound overly formal.

Write 得当

得
当

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Frequently asked questions about 得当

Yes, 得当 is used in both formal and casual conversation, particularly when discussing whether an action or decision is appropriate.

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