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深思熟虑 (shēn sī shú lǜ) — to think carefully and thoroughly; to deliberate

Definition

A formal idiom meaning to think something through very carefully before acting. Use it for serious deliberation (decisions, plans), not everyday thought.

idiom
to think carefully and thoroughlyto deliberate

Examples

  • 深思熟虑，。
    Tā shēn sī shú lǜ hòu, cái gěi chū le dá àn.
    After careful consideration, he finally gave the answer.
  • 深思熟虑。
    Zhè ge fāng àn shì jīng guò shēn sī shú lǜ de jié guǒ.
    This plan is the result of careful deliberation.
  • ，深思熟虑。
    Zuò zhòng yào jué cè qián, yí dìng yào shēn sī shú lǜ.
    Before making important decisions, you must think carefully.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

深思deep thinking
深shēndeep思sīthink
偏正Modifier + head
熟虑thorough considering
熟shúthorough虑lǜconsider
偏正Modifier + head

深思 means deep thinking and 熟虑 means thorough considering, together giving careful deliberation.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
𥥍
𥥍𥥍深shēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

深 is built from 氵, the side form of 水 “water”, and 𥥍, which supplies the sound.

Open 深 →

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.

熟 combines 孰 (cooked; ripe) with 灬 (fire), showing food cooked with fire.

Open 熟 →

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 慮; 虑 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
思思sīto think
Sound part声符shēngfú
虍
虍hū慮lǜ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 慮 puts 思 (think) with 虍, which gives the sound; the simplified 虑 is a later shorthand.

Open 虑 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesThinking & Cognition

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