如意算盘 (rú yì suàn pán) — wishful thinking; smug calculation | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A set phrase for 'wishful thinking' — plans or expectations that ignore reality. Almost always used with 打 (dǎ) in 打如意算盘, and carries a negative tone, unlike a neutral 'plan' (计划).

noun

wishful thinkingsmug calculation

Examples

如意算盘，。
Nǐ bié dǎ rú yì suàn pán le, zhè jiàn shì méi nà me jiǎn dān.
Stop your wishful thinking — this matter isn't that simple.
如意算盘，。
Tā de rú yì suàn pán luò kōng le, jì huà bù dé bù qǔ xiāo.
His wishful thinking fell through, and the plan had to be cancelled.
如意算盘，。
Nǐ zǒng shì dǎ rú yì suàn pán, què cóng bù kǎo lǜ shí jì qíng kuàng.
You're always engaging in wishful thinking, but you never consider the actual situation.

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.

如意as one wishes

如rúas/like意yìwish

动宾Verb + object

算盘abacus

算suàncalculate盘pántray/board

偏正Modifier + head

如意 (as one wishes) and 算盘 (calculating tray) give a calculation made to suit one’s hopes.

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.

女口如

Meaning part形符xíngfú

口口kǒumouth

Sound part声符shēngfú

女

女nǚ如rú

Same sound today

如 is built from 口 (mouth) for its meaning and 女 (woman) for its sound.

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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

竹目廾算

竹竹zhúbamboo
目目mù
廾廾gǒng

The current form 算 has 竹 on top, 目 in the middle, and 廾 below; the 目 part may have originally drawn counting rods, often made of bamboo.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 盤; 盘 is its simplified writing.

般皿盤

Meaning part形符xíngfú

皿皿mǐn

Sound part声符shēngfú

般

般bān盤pán

Same sound today

The traditional form 盤 pairs 般, which gives the sound, with 皿, a vessel. This note is about 盤, not the simplified 盘.

Appears in

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