The structure 拿…当…
"To consider..."
The structure 拿…当… 
is used to build phrases like: "I consider him my brother", "not to consider a headache an illness".
is used to build phrases like: "I consider him my brother", "not to consider a headache an illness".Scheme
拿
A
当
B
"A" and "B" are replaced either with nouns, pronouns or noun phrases.
Pay attention
A noun phrase is a phrase in which the main word is a noun.
Examples
我拿中国当自己的第二个家
I consider China my second home
wǒ ná zhōngguó dāng zìjǐ de dì èr ge jiā
她拿牛奶当药喝
She drinks milk as a medication
tā ná niúnǎi dāng yào hē
你不能老拿脚疼当托词
You can’t keep using leg pain as an excuse
nǐ bù néng lǎo ná jiǎo téng dāng tuōcí
This construction can be negative.
The particle 不 can be placed before 拿 or before 当.
Scheme
拿
A
不当
B
Examples
别拿头疼不当病，去医院吧
A headache is also an illness. Go to the hospital!
bié ná tóuténg bù dāng bìng, qù yīyuàn ba
Scheme
不拿
A
当
B
Examples
他不拿我当他的朋友
He doesn’t think of me as his friend
tā bù ná wǒ dāng tā de péngyou
Learn more