当时

当时 means 'at that time' or 'then,' used to refer to a specific point in the past. It emphasizes the temporal context of an event, distinguishing it from other times.

The character 当 (dāng) originally meant 'to be appropriate' or 'to correspond,' and later came to mean 'at' or 'during.' 时 (shí) means 'time.' Together, they form a phrase that denotes a specific moment in the past.

当时 is commonly used in storytelling, historical accounts, and daily conversations to indicate when something happened. It helps clarify the sequence of events and is often paired with past tense verbs. For example, in Chinese history lessons or personal anecdotes, it helps set the scene for a particular event.