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设想 (shè xiǎng) — to imagine, to envisage (often in speculation or planning); to have consideration for (used in 为…设想)

Definition

设想 means to imagine or envisage a scenario, often in planning or speculation. Compare 想象 (purely mental imagery) and 假设 (a formal 'suppose/assume' in logic or argument).

verb
to imagineto envisage (often in speculation or planning)to have consideration for (used in 为…设想)

Examples

  • 设想。
    Wǒ hěn nán shè xiǎng wèi lái huì zěn me yàng.
    I can hardly imagine what the future will be like.
  • 设想。
    Nǐ yīng dāng wèi bié rén shè xiǎng yí xià.
    You should have some consideration for others.
  • 设想。
    Tā men shè xiǎng zhè ge jì huà huì chéng gōng.
    They assumed that this plan would succeed.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

设shèto suppose
想xiǎngto imagine

设 (to suppose) and 想 (to imagine) together express envisaging or assuming something in the mind.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 設; 设 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
埶
埶yì設shè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 設 uses 言 (speech) to show the meaning and 埶 to give the sound; this explanation is for 設, not the simplified 设.

Open 设 →

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
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Thinking & Cognition

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