Meaning
当作 means to treat, regard, or consider someone or something as being a particular thing or having a particular quality. It's used when you're viewing or handling something in a specific way, often different from what it actually is. The word implies a subjective perspective or treatment of the object.
Usage
当作 is commonly used in everyday speech and writing. It typically follows the pattern: 把 X 当作 Y (treat X as Y) or simply X 当作 Y. The word carries a neutral tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Native speakers often use it when discussing how people perceive or handle situations, relationships, or objects.
Examples
- 01他一直把我当作自己的亲兄弟。.He has always treated me as his own brother.
- 02请不要把这件事当作儿戏。.Please don't treat this matter as child's play.
Characters
Common collocations
- 把...当作...... ...to treat ... as ...
- 当作朋友to treat as a friend
- 当作笑话to treat as a joke
- 当作礼物to treat as a gift
Origin
当 originally meant 'to face' or 'to be equal to,' while 作 means 'to make' or 'to act as.' Combined, they create the meaning of treating or considering something as being equivalent to something else.