Chinese word

想法

Pronunciation

Pinyinxiǎng fǎ

Meaning

  • nounidea

Example

你有什么想法？nǐ yǒu shén me xiáng fǎ

What ideas do you have?

Illustration for 想法 (idea)

More examples

我有一个想法。wǒ yǒu yí gè xiáng fǎ

I have an idea.

Core concept

A personal thought that gives a view of something or points toward a possible way forward.

Common phrases

  • 有什么想法yǒu shén me xiáng fǎ

    any ideas

  • 有想法yǒu xiáng fǎ

    have an idea

  • 你的想法nǐ de xiáng fǎ

    your idea

Similar words

意见yì jiàn: A person's opinion or stated view about someone or something.
看法kàn fǎ: A way of seeing and judging a matter.
主意zhǔ yì: An idea for dealing with a problem or carrying out an action.

Definition in Chinese

指对某事的见解或构想，可以是对问题的判断、处理方式或短暂的灵感性念头，语感偏向个人和口语化。zhǐ duì mǒu shì de jiàn jiě huò gòu xiǎng ké yǐ shì duì wèn tí de pàn duàn chú lǐ fāng shì huò duǎn zàn de líng gǎn xìng niàn tou yú gǎn piān xiàng gè rén hé kóu yǔ huà

Word origin

想 (xiǎng, "think") + 法 (fǎ, "way") forms a compound for a thought about understanding or handling something.

Usage tips

  • English often separates idea and opinion, but this Chinese noun can cover both in personal, everyday talk, depending on the context.

Other meanings

  • opinionnoun
  • way of thinkingnoun
  • perspectivenoun

Word lists with this word