TongTong
Sign in

设计 (shè jì) — (verb) to design, to plan; (noun) design, plan

Definition

设计 emphasizes creative or technical design — plans, products, visuals. 计划 is a general everyday 'plan' (goals, schedules); 构思 is the very first idea-stage of a creative work.

verb
to designto plan
noun
designplan

Examples

  • 设计。
    Tā zhèng zài shè jì yí gè xīn chǎn pǐn.
    He is designing a new product.
  • 。
    Zhè wèi fú zhuāng shè jì shī hěn yǒu míng.
    This fashion designer is very famous.
  • 设计。
    Zhè ge shè jì fēi cháng shí yòng.
    This design is very practical.

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shèarrange
计jìplan

设 and 计 both carry the sense of planning or arranging, so the sense is to make a design.

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 計; 计 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 計 pairs 言 (say) with 十 (all). The simplified 计 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical shape.

Open 计 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Photography & Design2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.