当道

當道

dāngdào

verb #36,137

Meanings

1 to be in the middle of the road / in the way
2 to hold power
3 (figurative) to predominate
4 to be in vogue

Characters

to be at / occupy

Examples

短视频当道,长文章越来越少有人读。

Duǎn shìpín dāngdào, cháng wénzhāng yuè lái yuè shǎo yǒu rén dú.

Short videos rule the day; fewer and fewer people read long articles.

奸臣当道,百姓苦不堪言。

Jiānchén dāngdào, bǎixìng kǔbùkānyán.

When treacherous ministers hold power, the people suffer beyond words.

Tips

history

Originally literal — 当 (to be at) + 道 (the road) — meaning 'blocking the path'. Idiomatically extended to 'holding power' since at least the Han dynasty: 奸臣当道 'treacherous ministers in power' is a stock phrase in dynastic history. Modern usage: X 当道 = 'X dominates' (短视频当道, 流量当道).

Stroke Order

当 dāng

道 dào