當

• Spatial/Positional: To face, be opposite, or be situated at a specific point.
• Temporal: At the time of, when, or while (often functioning as a temporal clause marker).
• Equivalence and Value: Worth or equivalent to (material); fitting, appropriate, commensurate, or just (qualitative).
• Active Responsibility: To bear, assume, undertake, take charge of, or endure.

• Modal Verb: In later classical texts and evolving prose, used to indicate necessity or obligation (should, ought to, must).
• Functional Distinction: Note the difference between adjectival use (being fitting/appropriate) and verbal use (taking on a role/responsibility).

The glyph's semantic range is governed by the core logic of "alignment," whether that alignment is physical (facing), temporal (at the moment), or evaluative (equivalence/worth).

// Tang-period reading: //dɑng dɑ̀ng

• Fanqie reading: 都郎 丁浪
• Variants: U+5F53

In ambiguous passages, consider whether the author is intentionally linking different semantic axes—for example, suggesting that because a person occupies a specific spatial or social position, they consequently have a modal obligation to behave in a certain way.