企图

qǐ tú

attempt; seek; try

HSK Level 6

Example Sentences

他企图逃脱,但被警察抓住了。

tā qǐtú táotuō, dàn bèi jǐngchá zhuāzhùle.

He attempted to escape, but was caught by the police.

她企图自杀,但被及时发现并阻止了。

tā qǐtú zìshā, dàn bèi jíshí fāxiàn bìng zǔzhǐle.

She attempted suicide, but was discovered and stopped in time.

他们企图颠覆政府,但最终失败了。

tāmen qǐtú diānfù zhèngfǔ, dàn zuìzhōng shībàile.

They attempted to overthrow the government, but ultimately failed.

Synonyms

Antonyms

放弃 (fàngqì)

give up

停止 (tíngzhǐ)

stop

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 企图 (qǐtú) is a compound word consisting of two characters: 企 (qǐ) and 图 (tú). The character 企 originally meant "to stand on tiptoe" or "to look up", and later extended to mean "to hope" or "to expect". The character 图 originally meant "a map" or "a plan", and later extended to mean "to intend" or "to attempt". When combined, the two characters 企图 form a verb that means "to intend to do something" or "to attempt to do something".The word 企图 is often used in a negative sense, to describe someone who is trying to do something that is wrong or harmful. For example, someone who is trying to steal something might be described as having a 企图偷窃 (qǐtú tōuqie) or "an intention to steal". However, the word 企图 can also be used in a positive sense, to describe someone who is trying to achieve something that is good or worthwhile. For example, someone who is trying to learn a new language might be described as having a 企图学习 (qǐtú xuéxí) or "an intention to learn".The word 企图 is a common word in Chinese, and it is important for HSK learners to understand its meaning and usage.

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