思想 (sī xiǎng) — thought, idea (a specific thought or opinion); ideology, thinking (a system of ideas)

Definition

思想 covers both a specific 'thought/idea' and a broader 'ideology' or way of thinking. 思维 is closer to the abstract thinking process; 观念 refers more to personal views or values.

noun
thoughtidea (a specific thought or opinion)ideologythinking (a system of ideas)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 思想。
    Tā yǒu zì jǐ de sī xiǎng hé kàn fǎ.
    He has his own thoughts and views.
  • 思想。
    Zhè zhǒng sī xiǎng yǐng xiǎng le hěn duō nián qīng rén.
    This ideology influenced many young people.
  • 思想，。
    Nǐ de sī xiǎng hěn shēn kè, zhí dé dà jiā xué xí.
    Your thinking is profound and worth learning from.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

思sīthink
想xiǎngthink

思 and 想 both concern thinking, so together they yield thought, idea, or ideology.

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 →

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 →
Appears in
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