正当

正當

zhèngdāng

conjunction HSK 6 #4,698

Meanings

1 just when; right at the time of
2 legitimate; proper; rightful

Characters

just; right; proper; exactly

when; at the time of; to act as

Right when — at that exact moment.

Examples

正当我要出门的时候，下雨了。

Zhèngdāng wǒ yào chūmén de shíhou, xiàyǔ le.

Just when I was about to go out, it started raining.

正当大家高兴的时候，他突然离开了。

Zhèngdāng dàjiā gāoxìng de shíhou, tā tūrán líkāi le.

Just when everyone was happy, he suddenly left.

他有正当的理由。

Tā yǒu zhèngdàng de lǐyóu.

He has a legitimate reason.

这是正当防卫。

Zhè shì zhèngdàng fángwèi.

This is legitimate self-defense.

Tips

usage

Two meanings with slightly different tones: 正当 as a conjunction = 'just when.' 正当 as an adjective = 'legitimate/proper' (正当权益 = legitimate rights, 正当防卫 = justifiable defense).

Stroke Order

正 zhèng

当 dāng