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思前想后 (sī qián xiǎng hòu) — to think over carefully, to deliberate; to consider all aspects

Definition

A chengyu meaning to think something over from all angles before deciding. Focuses on the inward mulling of one person, unlike 深思 (deep pondering) it adds hesitation, and unlike 商讨 or 议 it is not discussion with others.

phrase
to think over carefullyto deliberateto consider all aspects

Examples

  • 思前想后，。
    Tā sī qián xiǎng hòu, zhōng yú jué dìng jiē shòu zhè ge gōng zuò.
    After much deliberation, he finally decided to accept this job.
  • 思前想后，。
    Tā sī qián xiǎng hòu, jué de hái shì yīng gāi dào qiàn.
    She thought it over and felt she should apologize after all.
  • 思前想后，。
    Zhè jiàn shì xū yào nǐ sī qián xiǎng hòu, bú yào jí zhe zuò jué dìng.
    This matter requires you to think it over carefully; don't rush to a decision.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
囟
囟xìn思sī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 思, 心 (heart) points to thinking, while the top part is a changed form of 囟, which supplied the sound.

Open 思 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In the older form of 前, 止 (foot) and 舟 (boat) showed a foot on a boat moving forward; in the current 前 those parts are shortened.

Open 前 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart, mind
Sound part声符shēngfú
相
相xiāng想xiǎng
Same sound today

想 has 心 (heart, mind) below 相 (to look at); the shape shows the mind looking at or considering something, and 相 also gives the sound.

Open 想 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 後; 后 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 後 showed 夊 (foot) bound by 幺 (thread), a foot caught by a rope and lagging behind; the simplified 后 is a later abbreviation, and 后 also has a different meaning.

Open 后 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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