思考 (sī kǎo) — to think deeply, to ponder, to reflect | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

思考 is a general 'to think / ponder' verb about working through a question, problem, or idea. More focused and active than 沉思 (deep, quiet contemplation), broader than 反思 (looking back on past actions).

verb

to think deeplyto ponderto reflect

Examples

思考。
Tā měi tiān dōu huì sī kǎo shēng huó.
He thinks about life every day.
思考。
Zhè ge wèn tí xū yào zài sī kǎo yí xià.
This question needs to be thought about again.
思考。
Tā rèn zhēn sī kǎo le lǎo shī de wèn tí.
He thought carefully about the teacher's question.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

考kǎoexamine

思 (think) and 考 (examine) together mean to think deeply.

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

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.

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

耂丂考

耂耂lǎoan old man with long hair, bent over
丂丂kǎoa walking cane

In 考, the upper 耂 is an old man with long hair, bent over, and the lower 丂 is a walking cane.

Appears in

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