Word: 当 (dāng, dàng)

三年不上门,当亲也不亲

sān nián bú shàngmén,dāng qīn yě bù qīn

three years without visiting, even relatives are no longer close

三弦当琵琶,少根弦

sānxián dàng pípa,shǎo gēn xián

using a three-string lute as a pipa: one string short

三日不见,当刮目相看

sānrì bújiàn,dāng guāmùxiāngkàn

after three days apart, look at him with scraped-clean eyes

不为良相，当为良医

bù wéi liáng xiàng, dāng wéiliángyī

if you can't be a good prime minister, be a good doctor

丫头是当妈的小棉袄

yātou shì dāng mā de xiǎo mián'ǎo

a daughter is her mother's little padded jacket

丰年要当歉年过,有粮常想无粮时

fēngnián yào dāng qiànnián guò,yǒu liáng cháng xiǎng wú liáng shí

in a bumper year live as in a lean year; when you have grain, think of when you have none

他不适合当老师。

Tā bú shìhé dāng lǎoshī.

He is unfit to be a teacher.

他从小就有当医生的抱负。

Tā cóngxiǎo jiù yǒu dāng yīshēng de bàofù.

He has had the aspiration to become a doctor since he was little.

他从小怀抱着当医生的理想。

Tā cóngxiǎo huáibàozhe dāng yīshēng de lǐxiǎng.

Since childhood he has cherished the dream of becoming a doctor.

他们让我当了队长。

Tāmen ràng wǒ dāng le duìzhǎng.

They made me captain.

他儿子想当律师。

Tā érzi xiǎng dāng lǜshī.

His son wants to be a lawyer.

他决定了要当医生。

Tā juédìngle yào dāng yīshēng.

He made up his mind to be a doctor.

他决心要当医生。

Tā juéxīn yào dāng yīshēng.

He made a determination to be a doctor.

他刚当上经理，就神气起来了。

Tā gāng dāng shang jīnglǐ, jiù shénqì qǐlaile.

He had just become a manager and already started putting on airs.

他励志要当一名医生。

Tā lìzhì yào dāng yì míng yīshēng.

He is determined to become a doctor.

他在军队里当参谋。

Tā zài jūnduì lǐ dāng cānmóu.

He serves as a staff officer in the army.

他如愿以偿，当上了老师。

Tā rúyuànyǐcháng, dāng shang le lǎoshī.

His wish came true, and he became a teacher.

他将来想当警察。

Tā jiānglái xiǎng dāng jǐngchá.

He wants to be a policeman in the future.

他当上了乐队的首席小提琴手。

Tā dāng shang le yuèduì de shǒuxí xiǎotíqínshǒu.

He became the lead violinist of the orchestra.

他当上了这家公司的总裁。

Tā dāng shang le zhè jiā gōngsī de zǒngcái.

He became the president of this company.

他当了校长，还是不耻下问。

Tā dāng le xiàozhǎng, háishi bùchǐxiàwèn.

Even after becoming principal, he still isn't ashamed to ask those beneath him.

他当老师的时间不太长。

Tā dāng lǎoshī de shíjiān bú tài cháng.

He hasn't been a teacher for long.

他当老师的梦想终于实现了。

Tā dāng lǎoshī de mèngxiǎng zhōngyú shíxiànle.

He finally realised his dream of becoming a teacher.

他总是故意给同事当绊脚石。

Tā zǒngshì gùyì gěi tóngshì dāng bànjiǎoshí.

He always deliberately gets in his colleagues' way.

他执意要去山区当老师。

Tā zhíyì yào qù shānqū dāng lǎoshī.

He is determined to go teach in the mountains.

他爷爷年轻时当过司令。

Tā yéye niánqīng shí dāng guò sīlìng.

His grandfather was a commander when he was young.

他爸爸以前在空军当飞行员。

Tā bàba yǐqián zài kōngjūn dāng fēixíngyuán.

His father used to be a pilot in the air force.

他继前任当上了校长。

Tā jì qiánrèn dāng shang le xiàozhǎng.

He succeeded his predecessor as principal.

以前农村把粪便当肥料用。

Yǐqián nóngcūn bǎ fènbiàn dāng féiliào yòng.

In the past, the countryside used night soil as fertilizer.

你为何想当一个老师？

Nǐ wèihé xiǎng dāng yí gè lǎoshī?

Why did you want to become a teacher?

你以后想当什么呢？

Nǐ yǐhòu xiǎng dāng shénme ne?

What would you like to be in the future?

你当医生很久了吗？

Nǐ dāng yīshēng hěn jiǔle ma?

Have you been working long as a doctor?

你当过兵吗？

Nǐ dāng guò bīng ma?

Were you a soldier?

你想当刑事律师吗？

Nǐ xiǎng dāng xíngshì lǜshī ma?

Do you want to be a criminal lawyer?

你把我当什么啦？

Nǐ bǎ wǒ dāng shénme la?

Who do you think I am?

你能当我们的向导吗？

Nǐ néng dāng wǒmen de xiàngdǎo ma?

Could you be our guide?

你能来当我的帮手吗？

Nǐ néng lái dāng wǒ de bāngshou ma?

Could you come and be my helper?

你要当妈了。

Nǐ yào dāng mā le.

You're going to be a mommy.

你认为我把自己当傻瓜？

Nǐ rènwéi wǒ bǎ zìjǐ dāng shǎguā?

Do you think I think of myself as an idiot?

你该拿他当榜样。

Nǐ gāi ná tā dāng bǎngyàng.

You should learn from his example.

你选谁当总统？

Nǐ xuǎn shuí dāng zǒngtǒng?

For whom will you vote for president?

你长大以后想当军官吗？

Nǐ zhǎngdà yǐhòu xiǎng dāng jūnguān ma?

Do you want to become an officer when you grow up?

儿做的儿当，爹做的爹当

ér zuò de ér dāng, diē zuò de diē dāng

what the son does the son bears, what the father does the father bears

全班同学推选她当班长。

Quánbān tóngxué tuīxuǎn tā dāng bānzhǎng.

The whole class elected her as class monitor.

内向的人适合当老师吗？

Nèixiàng de rén shìhé dāng lǎoshī ma?

Are introverted people suited to being teachers?

农民把粪撒在田里当肥料。

Nóngmín bǎ fèn sǎ zài tiánlǐ dāng féiliào.

The farmer spread manure on the field as fertilizer.

冬瓜皮当帽子，霉上了顶

dōngguā pí dàng màozi, méi shàng le dǐng

wearing a winter-melon rind as a hat: mouldy to the top

别把人家当傻瓜。

Bié bǎ rénjia dāng shǎguā.

Don't make a fool of me.

十八岁的姑娘当媒人，人不说你，你还说人

shíbā suì de gūniang dāng méiren, rén bù shuō nǐ, nǐ hái shuō rén

an eighteen-year-old girl acting as matchmaker: nobody has matched you, yet you match others

十层单当不得一层棉

shí céng dān dāng bùdé yìcéng mián

ten layers of thin cloth can't equal one layer of padding

受人之托，必当终人之事

shòu rén zhī tuō, bì dāng zhōng rén zhī shì

entrusted by someone, you must see their matter through

受人滴水之恩，必当涌泉相报

shòu rén dīshuǐ zhī ēn, bì dāng yǒngquánxiāngbào

for a drop of water received, repay with a gushing spring

哥哥当了五年兵，上个月退役了。

Gēge dāng le wǔ nián bīng, shànggeyuè tuìyìle.

My older brother served five years in the army and left the service last month.

在“狼来了”的这个故事中，最后当这个男孩真正遇到危险时，再也没人愿意相信他了。

Zài“láng láile”de zhège gùshi zhōng, zuìhòu dāng zhège nánhái zhēnzhèng yùdào wēixiǎn shí, zàiyě méi rén yuànyì xiāngxìn tā le.

In the story of the boy who cried wolf, when in the end he encountered real danger, no-one would believe him.

太子以后会当皇帝。

Tàizǐ yǐhòu huì dāng huángdì.

The crown prince will become emperor later.

她在一家出版社当编辑。

Tā zài yìjiā chūbǎnshè dāng biānjí.

She works as an editor at a publishing house.

她在一家早教机构当老师。

Tā zài yìjiā zǎojiào jīgòu dāng lǎoshī.

She works as a teacher at an early childhood education center.

她在一家银行当实习生。

Tā zài yìjiā yínháng dāng shíxísheng.

She is working as an intern at a bank.

她安静的气质很适合当老师。

Tā ānjìng de qìzhì hěn shìhé dāng lǎoshī.

Her quiet temperament suits her well for being a teacher.

她当上了协会的干事。

Tā dāng shang le xiéhuì de gànshi.

She became the executive secretary of the association.

她当医生了。

Tā dāng yīshēng le.

She's a doctor now.

她想去联合国当翻译。

Tā xiǎng qù Liánhéguó dāng fānyì.

She wants to work as an interpreter at the United Nations.

她想当一名乘务员。

Tā xiǎng dāng yì míng chéngwùyuán.

She wants to become an attendant.

她想当一名刑事律师。

Tā xiǎng dāng yì míng xíngshì lǜshī.

She wants to become a criminal lawyer.

她想当个救死扶伤的医生。

Tā xiǎng dāng gè jiùsǐfúshāng de yīshēng.

She wants to be a doctor who saves lives and heals the wounded.

她第一次演戏就当上了主角。

Tā dìyīcì yǎnxì jiù dāng shang le zhǔjué.

She got the lead role the very first time she acted.

她认定了要当医生。

Tā rèndìngle yào dāng yīshēng.

She has set her mind on becoming a doctor.

她追随父亲的脚步当了医生。

Tā zhuīsuí fùqīn de jiǎobù dāng le yīshēng.

She followed in her father's footsteps and became a doctor.

好话当不了饭吃

hǎohuà dàng bù liǎo fàn chī

nice words can't be eaten as food

孩子用一个筒当望远镜玩。

Háizi yòng yí gè tǒng dāng wàngyuǎnjìng wán.

The child played with a tube as if it were a telescope.

宁当有日筹无日，莫待无时思有时

níng dāng yǒu rì chóu wú rì, mò dài wú shí sī yǒushí

better to plan in days of plenty for days of none, than to recall plenty when there is none

宁当鸡头，不做凤尾

níng dāng jītóu, bú zuò Fèngwěi

better to be a chicken's head than a phoenix's tail

将相本无种，男儿当自强

jiàngxiàng běn wú zhǒng, nán'ér dāng zìqiáng

generals and ministers are not born of a special seed; a man should strive to be strong

小女儿说她想当故事里的仙女。

Xiǎo nǚ'ér shuō tā xiǎng dāng gùshi lǐ de xiānnǚ.

My little daughter says she wants to be a fairy from the stories.

小时候，我总想当一个武侠。

Xiǎoshíhou, wǒ zǒng xiǎng dāng yí gè wǔxiá.

As a child, I always wanted to be a knight-errant.

康熙当了六十多年皇帝。

Kāngxī dāng le liùshí duōnián huángdì.

The Kangxi Emperor was on the throne for more than sixty years.

康熙当皇帝当了很多年。

Kāngxī dāng huángdì dāng le hěn duōnián.

Kangxi was emperor for many years.

当了衣服买肉吃，顾嘴不顾身

dàng le yīfu mǎi ròu chī, gùzuǐ búgù shēn

pawn clothes to buy meat: care for the mouth, not the body

当了衣服买酒喝，顾嘴不顾身

dàng le yīfu mǎi jiǔ hē, gùzuǐ búgù shēn

pawn clothes to buy wine: care for the mouth, not the body

当他回家时，我遇到了他。

Dāng tā huíjiā shí, wǒ yùdàole tā.

I met him while he was coming home.

当他说话的时候，发生了火灾。

Dāng tā shuōhuà de shíhou, fāshēngle huǒzāi.

Just as he was speaking, a fire broke out.

当你到达时寄封信给我。

Dāng nǐ dàodá shí jì fēng xìn gěi wǒ.

Send me a letter when you arrive.

当你到达的时候他还在这里吗？

Dāng nǐ dàodá de shíhou tā hái zài zhèlǐ ma?

Was he still here when you arrived?

当你喝汤的时候不要发出声音。

Dāng nǐ hē tāng de shíhou búyào fāchū shēngyīn.

Don't make noise while eating soup.

当你过马路的时候要当心汽车。

Dāng nǐ guò mǎlù de shíhou yào dāngxīn qìchē.

Watch out for cars when you cross the street.

当你饿的时候，任何东西都好吃。

Dāng nǐ è de shíhou, rènhé dōngxi dōu hǎochī.

When you're hungry, anything tastes good.

当医生是她从小的志愿。

Dāng yīshēng shì tā cóngxiǎo de zhìyuàn.

Becoming a doctor has been her aspiration since childhood.

当医生要有过硬的本领。

Dāng yīshēng yào yǒu guòyìng de běnlǐng.

To be a doctor, you need solid skills.

当她回来的时后，我就离开。

Dāng tā huílai de shí hòu, wǒ jiù líkāi.

I'll leave when she comes back.

当我们离开的时候，谁来照顾狗？

Dāng wǒmen líkāi de shíhou, shéi lái zhàogu gǒu?

Who will take care of the dog while we are away?

当我到的时候，她已经走了。

Dāng wǒ dào de shíhou, tā yǐjīng zǒule.

She had already gone when I arrived.

当我到达时，天正下着雨。

Dāng wǒ dàodá shí, tiān zhèng xià zhe yǔ.

When I arrived, it was raining.

当我听到这个消息，我哭了。

Dāng wǒ tīngdào zhège xiāoxi, wǒ kūle.

When I heard the news, I cried.

当我听到这个消息时，我想哭。

Dāng wǒ tīngdào zhège xiāoxi shí, wǒ xiǎng kū.

When I heard the news, I wanted to cry.

当我回家时，我遇见了他。

Dāng wǒ huíjiā shí, wǒ yùjiànle tā.

I met him while I was coming home.

当我在那里的时候，我学习英语。

Dāng wǒ zài nàli de shíhou, wǒ xuéxí Yīngyǔ.

I studied English when I was there.

当我学习的时候不要打扰我。

Dāng wǒ xuéxí de shíhou búyào dǎrǎo wǒ.

Don't disturb me while I'm studying.

当我小的时候，我不能够吃鱼。

Dāng wǒ xiǎo de shíhou, wǒ bù nénggòu chī yú.

When I was little, I couldn't eat fish.

当我年轻的时候，我也喜欢这个。

Dāng wǒ niánqīng de shíhou, wǒ yě xǐhuan zhège.

When I was young, I also liked this one.

当我年长时，我渐渐变得有远见。

Dāng wǒ nián zhǎng shí, wǒ jiànjiàn biànde yǒu yuǎnjiàn.

I'm getting farsighted as I get older.