当初

dāng chū

HSK 2.0 Level 6 HSK 3.0 Level 6 Noun Common

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Definitions

1. at that time
2. originally

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Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 如今 rú jīn 如今 rú jīn nowadays 如今 means now or nowadays, opposite to the past time expressed by 当初.: nowadays

Related words

1 item

• 最初 zuì chū 最初 zuì chū first 最初 also means at first or originally, often interchangeable with 当初.: first

Usage notes

Collocations

Often used with 为什么 or 如果 to contrast past and present, e.g., 你当初为什么选择这个专业？

Common mistakes

Don't confuse with 当时, which simply means 'at that time' without the contrastive nuance.

Example Sentences

1 shown

你 当初 为什么学习中文？

Why did you start learning Chinese in the first place?

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 当初

• 悔不当初 悔不当初 huǐ bù dāng chū: to regret one's past deeds (idiom)
• 既有今日何必当初 既有今日何必当初 jì yǒu jīn rì hé bì dāng chū: see 早知今日何必當初|早知今日何必当初[zǎo zhī jīn rì hé bì dāng chū]
• 早知今日何必当初 早知今日何必当初 zǎo zhī jīn rì hé bì dāng chū: if I (you, she, he...) had known it would come to this, I (you, she, he...) would not have acted thus (idiom)

Child Words of 当初

• 初 初 chū: at first
• 当 当 dāng: (onom.) dong
• 当 当 dàng: at or in the very same...