HSK Level 2

想法

xiǎng fǎ

idea; opinion;thought

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Example Sentences

我有这个想法很久了。

wǒ yǒu zhège xiǎngfǎ hěn jiǔle.

I've had this idea for a long time.

你的想法很有趣。

nǐ de xiǎngfǎ hěn yǒuqù.

Your idea is very interesting.

我们应该尊重别人的想法。

wǒmen yīnggāi zūnzhòng biérén de xiǎngfǎ.

We should respect other people's ideas.

Synonyms

Antonyms

现实 (xiànshí)

reality

事实 (shìshí)

fact

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 想法 (xiǎngfǎ) is composed of two characters: 想 (xiǎng), which means "to think" or "to imagine," and 法 (fǎ), which means "method" or "way." Together, these characters form the compound word 想法, which can be translated as "idea," "thought," or "plan."The character 想 (xiǎng) is derived from the oracle bone script, which is the earliest known form of Chinese writing. In the oracle bone script, the character 想 is depicted as a person with a hand raised to their head, as if they are thinking. The character 法 (fǎ) is also derived from the oracle bone script, and it is depicted as a person holding a stick or a tool. This character originally meant "to use a tool," but it later came to be used in a more general sense to mean "method" or "way."The compound word 想法 (xiǎngfǎ) first appeared in the Chinese language during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE). It was originally used to refer to a person's thoughts or ideas, but it later came to be used more broadly to refer to any kind of plan or idea. Today, 想法 is one of the most common words in the Chinese language, and it is used in a wide variety of contexts.