<p>Another option for you is <code>当</code>.</p>

<p><code>我在美国当犹太人并不难。</code></p>

<p><code>我在美国当作犹太人并不难。</code></p>

<p><code>我在美国作为犹太人并不难。</code></p>

<p>These all are quite equivalent in saying "Being Jewish in the USA is not hard."</p>

<p><code>当</code> implies a sense of being, filling a role, or acting as something. I do like the aforementioned <code>作为</code> as well, and it can be used in just about the same way. Personally, I prefer <code>当</code> because it sounds more active, and <code>作为</code> feels passive. It's really up to you however.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-25T16:33:33.550Z
当 makes it sound like being Jewish is a temporary condition.
200_success
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-25T23:02:43.563Z
@200_success I suppose it depends what you are trying to convey. 当 can denote a hypothetical condition, so it could be used if you weren't Jewish but were talking about what it would be like being Jewish.
Claw
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-25T16:28:13.223Z
2014-07-25T16:28:13.223Z
JDong
<p>"being Jewish" can be translated as "身為一個猶太人"</p>

<p>But for "In the U.S., being Jewish isn't difficult.", I would say "猶太人在美國生活大都不錯".</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-25T11:08:19.713Z
2014-07-25T11:08:19.713Z
Henry HO
<p>I think the word you're looking for is <strong>作为</strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p>in the capacity, character, or role of; as</p>
<p><strong>作为你的朋友，我得劝劝你</strong></p>
<p>As your friend, I have to give you some advice</p>
<p><strong>你作为领导，就要以身作则</strong></p>
<p>As a leader, you should set a good example for others -<em>A Chinese English Dictionary</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>This is basically the equivalent of <em>as</em> in English - which I think is what you're looking for with 'being'.</p>
<p>being Jewish 作为一个犹太人</p>
<p>being American 作为一个老美</p>
<p>being Christian 作为一个基督徒</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-25T09:43:25.303Z
2014-07-25T09:43:25.303Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Mou某
<p>I've always had some difficulty trying to translate the english "being" as in "being Christian" or "being American". I'd like to say 
"in the U.S. being Jewish isn't difficult." </p>

<p>Should I say 我在美国成为犹太人并不难  ?</p>

<p>I feel like 成为 in this instance implies becoming - which is not quite what I am trying to imply.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-25T08:14:55.173Z
How about "當"? Like "我在美国當一個犹太人并不难"
AngelLeliel
<grammar>
How to say "being" as in "Being jewish"
# How to say "being" as in "Being jewish"

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-07-25)

I've always had some difficulty trying to translate the english "being" as in "being Christian" or "being American". I'd like to say
"in the U.S. being Jewish isn't difficult."

Should I say 我在美国成为犹太人并不难 ?

I feel like 成为 in this instance implies becoming - which is not quite what I am trying to imply.

**Tags:** grammar

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: How about "當"? Like "我在美国當一個犹太人并不难"  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_6 on 2014-07-25. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

I think the word you're looking for is **作为**

> in the capacity, character, or role of; as
>
> **作为你的朋友，我得劝劝你**
>
> As your friend, I have to give you some advice
>
> **你作为领导，就要以身作则**
>
> As a leader, you should set a good example for others -*A Chinese English Dictionary*

This is basically the equivalent of *as* in English - which I think is what you're looking for with 'being'.

being Jewish 作为一个犹太人

being American 作为一个老美

being Christian 作为一个基督徒


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-07-25. Score: 7

Another option for you is `当`.

`我在美国当犹太人并不难。`

`我在美国当作犹太人并不难。`

`我在美国作为犹太人并不难。`

These all are quite equivalent in saying "Being Jewish in the USA is not hard."

`当` implies a sense of being, filling a role, or acting as something. I do like the aforementioned `作为` as well, and it can be used in just about the same way. Personally, I prefer `当` because it sounds more active, and `作为` feels passive. It's really up to you however.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: 当 makes it sound like being Jewish is a temporary condition.  
> **username_4**: @username_3 I suppose it depends what you are trying to convey. 当 can denote a hypothetical condition, so it could be used if you weren't Jewish but were talking about what it would be like being Jewish.  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2014-07-25. Score: 5

"being Jewish" can be translated as "身為一個猶太人"

But for "In the U.S., being Jewish isn't difficult.", I would say "猶太人在美國生活大都不錯".


---

