Definition
设想 means 'to imagine, envisage' — it's used for speculating about future possibilities or planning, often with a practical or serious tone. It differs from 想象 (xiǎngxiàng), which is broader and can be purely fanciful; 设想 is more grounded in reasoning or consideration. In the phrase 为…设想, it means 'to have consideration for (someone's needs)', overlapping with 着想 (zhuóxiǎng) but 设想 is slightly more about putting yourself in their position.
verb
to imagineto envisage (often in speculation or planning)to have consideration for (used in 为…设想)
Easily confused
- 摄像shè xiàngsound-aliketo videotape, to film (video)
Examples
- 设想。Wǒ hěn nán shè xiǎng wèilái huì zěnme yàng.I can hardly imagine what the future will be like.
- 设想。Nǐ yīngdāng wèi biérén shè xiǎng yíxià.You should have some consideration for others.
- 设想。Tāmen shè xiǎng zhège jìhuà huì chénggōng.They assumed that this plan would succeed.
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