Meaning of 设想
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to imagine
- to assume
- to envisage
- tentative plan
- to have consideration for
How to use 设想
设想 often describes envisioning a future plan or a hypothetical situation, and as a noun it means a tentative idea or proposal. It is common in formal speech, reports, and news. Example: 这只是一个初步的设想。(Zhè zhǐ shì yí gè chūbù de shèxiǎng.) This is just a preliminary idea.
设 (shè) means to set up or establish, and 想 (xiǎng) means to think. When you set up a picture in your mind, you are imagining or planning something: 设想.
Common mistake: Learners often use 设想 where 想法 (xiǎngfǎ) fits better. 设想 suggests a plan or vision for the future, while 想法 is any everyday opinion or thought. Also note that 设 is fourth tone, shè, not shě.
设想 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
设 shè · to set up · 6 strokes
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想 xiǎng · to think · 13 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 设想.
| 想法 | xiǎngfǎ | way of thinking; opinion; notion; to think of a way (to do sth) |
| 想到 | xiǎngdào | to think of; to call to mind |
| 想起 | xiǎngqǐ | to recall; to think of |
| 理想 | lǐxiǎng | an ideal; a dream |
| 设计 | shèjì | to design; to plan; design; plan |
| 思想 | sīxiǎng | thought; thinking |
| 设备 | shèbèi | equipment; facilities; installations |
| 建设 | jiànshè | to build; to construct; to establish; to develop; to institute |
| 设立 | shèlì | to set up; to establish |
| 想象 | xiǎngxiàng | to imagine; to envision; imagination |
| 梦想 | mèngxiǎng | (fig.) to dream of; dream |
| 没想到 | méi xiǎngdào | didn't expect |
Questions about 设想
What does 设想 mean?
设想 (shèxiǎng) means "to imagine; to assume" and is used as a verb and noun.
How do you write 设想?
设想 is made of 2 characters: 设 (6 strokes), 想 (13 strokes). That is 19 strokes in total.
Is 设想 an HSK word?
Yes. 设想 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 设想 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 设想 is written 設想.
What does 不堪设想 mean?
不堪设想 (bùkān shèxiǎng) means the consequences are too terrible to imagine. It is a set phrase often used in warnings, such as 后果不堪设想 (the consequences would be unthinkable).
How is 设想 used in the sense of having consideration for someone?
In this sense it usually appears in the pattern 为……设想, meaning to think on someone's behalf. For example, 你要为孩子设想一下 (nǐ yào wèi háizi shèxiǎng yíxià) means you should consider things from the child's point of view.