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设身处地 (shè shēn chǔ dì) — to put oneself in someone else's position; to be empathetic and considerate

Definition

A formal chengyu meaning 'to put oneself in another's shoes' — used in writing or serious speech to emphasize genuine empathy. The verb 想 (to think/consider) is the everyday alternative.

idiom
to put oneself in someone else's positionto be empathetic and considerate

Examples

  • 设身处地，。
    Nǐ yīng gāi shè shēn chǔ dì wèi tā xiǎng yi xiǎng, tā yě yǒu nán chù.
    You should put yourself in his shoes — he has difficulties too.
  • 设身处地，，？
    shè shēn chǔ dì Dì kǎo lǜ yí xià, rú guǒ nǐ shì tā, nǐ huì zěn me zuò?
    Think about it from his perspective — if you were him, what would you do?
  • 设身处地，。
    Tā zuò shì zǒng néng shè shēn chǔ dì, suǒ yǐ dà jiā dōu hěn xìn rèn tā.
    He always puts himself in others' shoes when doing things, so everyone trusts him.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

设身place oneself
设shèplace身shēnbody
动宾Verb + object
处地be in a place
处chùbe in地dìplace
动宾Verb + object

设身 (place oneself) and 处地 (be in a position) together mean seeing things from another's position.

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 身 comes from a drawing of a pregnant woman.

Open 身 →

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 處; 处 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
夂夂zhǐ
几几jǐtable
Sound part声符shēngfú
虍
虍hū處chǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 處 pairs 虍, giving the sound, with 夂 and 几, a table, as meaning parts. The simplified 处 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 处 →

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
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
也
也yě地dì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

地 is built from 土 (earth) and 也, which gives its sound.

Open 地 →
Appears in
Emotions & FeelingsIdioms & Set Phrases

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