设法 (shè fǎ) — to try to find a way, to attempt (to do something)

Definition

设法 means 'to try to find a way' — emphasizes working out a method, not just attempting. Stronger/more deliberate than 尝试 and 试图; 企图 often implies a bad or risky goal.

verb
to try to find a wayto attempt (to do something)

Examples

  • 设法。
    Wǒ men bì xū shè fǎ gǎi shàn zhè ge qíng kuàng.
    We must find a way to improve this situation.
  • 设法。
    Tā shè fǎ bú ràng bié rén fā xiàn tā de jì huà.
    He tried not to let others discover his plan.
  • ，设法。
    Wèi le shěng qián, tā shè fǎ shǎo mǎi bú bì yào de dōng xī.
    To save money, she tried to buy fewer unnecessary things.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

设shèdevise
法fǎmethod

设 gives devise and 法 gives method, hence try to find a way.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
廌廌zhìa type of antelope or caprid
Sound part声符shēngfú
盍
盍hé法fǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

法's older form combined 氵 (water) and 廌 (a type of antelope or caprid), with 盍 as a sound part; later 廌 was dropped.

Open 法 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Will & Intention5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.