想法 (xiǎng fǎ) — idea; opinion; way of thinking

Definition

想法 is the everyday 'idea' or 'opinion' that pops into your head or that you hold about something. 看法 is more like a considered view on a topic; 意见 is closer to a suggestion or a complaint.

noun
ideaopinionway of thinking
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 想法。
    Wǒ yǒu yí gè hǎo xiǎng fǎ.
    I have a good idea.
  • 想法。
    Nǐ de xiǎng fǎ hěn tè bié.
    Your way of thinking is very unique.
  • 想法。
    Tā bù tóng yì dà jiā de xiǎng fǎ.
    He doesn't agree with everyone's opinion.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

想xiǎngthink
法fǎmethod

想 (thinking) and 法 (method) combine to mean a way of thinking or an idea.

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, 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 →

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
廌廌zhìa type of antelope or caprid
Sound part声符shēngfú
盍
盍hé法fǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

法's older form combined 氵 (water) and 廌 (a type of antelope or caprid), with 盍 as a sound part; later 廌 was dropped.

Open 法 →
Appears in
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