考虑 (kǎo lǜ) — to consider, to think over

Definition

The everyday verb for 'to consider / think over' a decision or suggestion. 思考 is deeper and more reflective; 考量 is more formal.

verb

to considerto think over

考虑。
Tā zhèng zài kǎo lǜ shì fǒu jiē shòu zhè ge gōng zuò.
He is considering whether to accept this job.
考虑。
Qǐng nǐ rèn zhēn kǎo lǜ yí xià wǒ de jiàn yì.
Please carefully consider my suggestion.
考虑，。
Wǒ men kǎo lǜ le jǐ tiān, zuì hòu zuò le yí gè jué dìng.
We thought it over for a few days and finally made a decision.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

“考” (examine) and “虑” (think) combine to mean thinking something over carefully.

Characters in this word

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

耂丂考

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

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.

思虍慮

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.

Appears in