当年 meaning in English
in those days; back then; in those years; to be in the prime of life
Meaning of 当年
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- in those days; back then; in those years
- to be in the prime of life
- that very same year
How to use 当年
当年 (dāngnián) is used to look back on a period in the past, often with a nostalgic feeling. It also describes someone in their prime, as in 正当年 (zhèng dāngnián). Example: 我当年也很喜欢打篮球。(Wǒ dāngnián yě hěn xǐhuan dǎ lánqiú.) I also loved playing basketball back in those days.
当 (dāng) means "at" or "right at" a time, and 年 (nián) means year. Put together, 当年 points right at a year in the past, so think "at that year, back then."
Common mistake: Learners often miss the tone difference. 当年 (dāngnián) with first tone means "back then," while 当年 (dàngnián) with fourth tone means "that very same year," as in 当年就毕业了 (dàngnián jiù bìyè le), graduated that same year. Also, do not confuse 当年 with 今年 (jīnnián), which means this year.
当年 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
当 dāng · to be · 6 strokes
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年 nián · year · 6 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 当年.
| 今年 | jīnnián | this year |
| 去年 | qùnián | last year |
| 明年 | míngnián | next year |
| 半年 | bàn nián | half a year |
| 新年 | xīnnián | New Year |
| 当时 | dāngshí | then; at that time |
| 年轻 | niánqīng | young |
| 少年 | shàonián | early youth; youngster |
| 青年 | qīngnián | youth; youthful years |
| 青少年 | qīng-shàonián | adolescent; youth |
| 周年 | zhōunián | anniversary; annual |
| 年级 | niánjí | grade; year (in school, college etc) |
Questions about 当年
What does 当年 mean?
当年 (dāngnián) means "in those days; back then; in those years; to be in the prime of life" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 当年?
当年 is made of 2 characters: 当 (6 strokes), 年 (6 strokes). That is 12 strokes in total.
Is 当年 an HSK word?
Yes. 当年 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 当年 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 当年 is written 當年.
What is the difference between 当年 and 当时?
当时 (dāngshí) means "at that time" and can point to a specific moment, even a short one. 当年 (dāngnián) refers to a broader period of years in the past, and often carries a reflective or nostalgic tone.
Can 当年 mean the present year?
Not in the sense of "this year." For the current year, use 今年 (jīnnián). Read as dàngnián, it means the same year as an event already mentioned, not the present one.