概念 meaning in English

gàiniàn

concept; idea

HSK 3noun21 strokes

Meaning of 概念

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

gàiniàn

concept
idea

Measure word: 個|个

How to use 概念

概念 is a noun used for ideas, notions, and abstract concepts, often in study, work, or when someone does not understand something. A very common phrase is 没有概念 (méiyǒu gàiniàn), meaning to have no idea about something. Example: 我对这个数字没有概念。(Wǒ duì zhège shùzì méiyǒu gàiniàn.) I have no sense of what this number means.

概 (gài) is the 'general, overall' part you also see in 大概 (dàgài), and 念 (niàn) has 心 (heart, mind) at the bottom, meaning a thought held in the mind. Put them together: a general thought in your mind is a concept.

Common mistake: Learners often mix up 概念 and 观念 (guānniàn). 概念 is a concept or understanding of something, while 观念 is a belief or way of thinking, like 传统观念 (traditional values). Also keep 概 in the fourth tone, gài, not gǎi like 改.

概念 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

我wǒ觉jué得de这zhè个ge网wǎng站zhàn的de概gài念niàn非fēi常cháng好hǎo。

I really like the concept of this website.

我wǒ觉jué得de你nǐ还hái没méi完wán全quán理lǐ解jiě这zhè个ge概gài念niàn。

I don't think you quite grasp the idea.

我wǒ明míng白bái这zhè概gài念niàn。

I understand the concept.

关guān于yú这zhè个ge我wǒ几jī乎hū没méi什shén么me概gài念niàn。

I know almost nothing about it.

这zhè是shì一yí个gè东dōng方fāng的de概gài念niàn，用yòng西xī班bān牙yá语yǔ不bù太tài好hǎo解jiě释shì。

This is an East Asian concept -- it's a little tricky to explain in Spanish.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

概 gài · generally · 13 strokes

念 niàn · to read · 8 strokes

Related words

Words that share a character with 概念.

大概	dàgài	roughly; probably
纪念	jìniàn	to commemorate; to honor the memory of; memento; keepsake; souvenir
观念	guānniàn	notion; thought
想念	xiǎngniàn	to miss; to remember with longing
怀念	huáiniàn	to cherish the memory of; to think of
概括	gàikuò	to summarize; to generalize; briefly; in broad outline
信念	xìnniàn	faith; belief
念头	niàntou	thought; idea; intention
思念	sīniàn	to think of; to long for
念书	niànshū	to read; to study; to attend school
纪念日	jìniànrì	day of commemoration; memorial day
理念	lǐniàn	idea; concept

Questions about 概念

What does 概念 mean?

概念 (gàiniàn) means "concept; idea" and is used as a noun.

How do you write 概念?

概念 is made of 2 characters: 概 (13 strokes), 念 (8 strokes). That is 21 strokes in total.

Is 概念 an HSK word?

Yes. 概念 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

Can 概念 mean 'idea' as in 'I have a good idea'?

No. For a plan or suggestion, use 主意 (zhǔyi) or 想法 (xiǎngfǎ), as in 好主意 (good idea). 概念 means a concept or a general understanding of something.

What does 概念 mean in marketing words like 概念车?

In modern Chinese, 概念 can describe something as a concept or prototype, like 概念车 (gàiniàn chē) concept car. It is also used for trendy themes, as in 概念股 (concept stocks).