Meaning of 正当
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- honest
- reasonable
- fair
- sensible
- timely
- just (when needed)
How to use 正当
正当 (zhèngdàng) usually describes reasons, rights, income, or behavior that are legitimate or justified. It often appears in set phrases like 正当理由 (a valid reason) and 正当防卫 (self-defense). Example: 他有正当的理由请假。(Tā yǒu zhèngdàng de lǐyóu qǐngjià.) He has a legitimate reason to ask for leave.
正 (zhèng) means straight or upright, and 当 (dàng) means proper or fitting. Something that is upright and fitting is 正当: legitimate and fair.
Common mistake: Learners often read it as zhèngdāng in every context. When it means legitimate, 当 is fourth tone (dàng). The first tone zhèngdāng means just when, as in 正当我出门的时候 (just as I was going out).
正当 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.
正 zhèng · straight · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
当 dāng · to be · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Related words
Words that share a character with 正当.
| 正在 | zhèngzài | to be in the process of (doing sth); to be currently ...-ing |
| 真正 | zhēnzhèng | genuine; real; true; really; indeed |
| 当时 | dāngshí | then; at that time |
| 正常 | zhèngcháng | normal; regular |
| 正确 | zhèngquè | correct; sound; right; proper |
| 正是 | zhèngshì | is precisely |
| 正好 | zhènghǎo | just (in time); just right |
| 当然 | dāngrán | only natural; as it should be |
| 反正 | fǎnzhèng | anyway; in any case |
| 相当 | xiāngdāng | equivalent to; appropriate |
| 正式 | zhèngshì | formal; official |
| 当中 | dāngzhōng | among; in the middle |
Questions about 正当
What does 正当 mean?
正当 (zhèngdàng) means "honest; reasonable" and is used as a adjective.
How do you write 正当?
正当 is made of 2 characters: 正 (5 strokes), 当 (6 strokes). That is 11 strokes in total.
Is 正当 an HSK word?
Yes. 正当 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 正当 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 正当 is written 正當.
What is the difference between 正当 and 正确?
正确 (zhèngquè) means factually or technically correct, like a correct answer. 正当 (zhèngdàng) means morally or legally legitimate, like a justified reason or lawful income. An answer is 正确, but a right or a motive is 正当.
How is 正当 (zhèngdāng) used to mean just when?
In this sense it introduces a time clause, often with 的时候 or 之际. Example: 正当我们要走的时候，下雨了。(Zhèngdāng wǒmen yào zǒu de shíhou, xià yǔ le.) Just as we were about to leave, it started raining. This use is more written and formal than 正在.