Meaning
当下 refers to the current moment or present time. It emphasizes the immediacy of 'now' and can be used both as a time noun meaning 'the present' and as an adverb meaning 'right away' or 'at that very moment'. It carries a slightly more formal or literary tone than the casual 现在.
Usage
当下 is commonly used in written Chinese and formal speech. When used as a time adverb, it often appears at the beginning of a sentence to emphasize that something happened immediately or is happening right now. In contemporary usage, it's also popular in discussions about mindfulness and living in the present moment. It's more emphatic than 现在 and suggests urgency or significance.
Examples
- 01我们应该活在当下，珍惜现在拥有的一切。, .We should live in the present moment and cherish everything we have now.
- 02听到这个消息，他当下就决定回国。, .Upon hearing this news, he immediately decided to return to his home country.
Characters
Common collocations
- 活在当下live in the present moment
- 当下就right away; immediately
- 当下的问题current problems
Antonyms
Origin
当 originally means 'at the time of' and 下 means 'below' or 'next in sequence'. Together, 当下 literally suggests 'at the time below/following', evolving to mean 'right at this moment' or 'the immediate present'.