思 sī think
think; thought; to ponder
How to remember 思: 田 field + 心 heart = think. The young farmer stands in the empty field with a heavy heart, wondering whether to sell, and needs a quiet moment to think.
Component breakdown
思 = 田 field + 心 heart
- 田 field
- 心 heart
The young farmer stands in the empty field with a heavy heart, wondering whether to sell, and needs a quiet moment to think.
How it came to be
The crown of the skull with the soft spot marked, over a heart. Chinese put thinking in both places, and the character uses both: the head on top and the heart underneath.
How it is used
- The "think" root - 思考 (sīkǎo) ponder, 思想 (sīxiǎng) thought/ideology, 反思 (fǎnsī) reflect back on.
- Everyday: 意思 (yìsi) = meaning, and 不好意思 (bùhǎoyìsi) = "excuse me / mildly sorry", 有意思 (yǒuyìsi) = interesting. The 思 supplies the "mind/thought" flavor.
Words with 思
- 意思yìsimeaningHSK 2
- 不好意思bùhǎoyìsito feel embarrassedHSK 2
- 有意思yǒuyìsiinterestingHSK 2
- 没意思méiyìsiboringHSK 2
- 思想sīxiǎngthoughtHSK 5
- 思维sīwéithoughtHSK 5
- 思考sīkǎoto reflect onHSK 5
- 反思fǎnsīto think back over somethingHSK 6
- 思念sīniànto think ofHSK 6
- 思路sīlùline of thoughtHSK 6
- 不可思议bùkě-sīyìinconceivableHSK 7
- 居安思危jū’ān-sīwēito think of danger in times of safetyHSK 7
- 心思xīnsimindHSK 7
- 思前想后sīqián-xiǎnghòuto consider past cause and future effectHSK 7
- 深思shēnsīto ponderHSK 7
- 不假思索bùjiǎ-sīsuǒto act without taking time to thinkHSK 8
- 思索sīsuǒto think deeplyHSK 8
- 思绪sīxùtrain of thoughtHSK 8
- 构思gòusīto designHSK 9
- 沉思chénsīto contemplateHSK 9
- 胡思乱想húsī-luànxiǎngto indulge in flights of fancy (idiom)HSK 9
- 集思广益jísī-guǎngyìcollecting opinions is of wide benefitHSK 9
- 顾名思义gùmíng-sīyìas the name impliesHSK 9
Example sentences
- 你们明白我的意思了吗？ Nǐmen míngbai wǒ de yìsi le ma?Do you understand what I mean?
- 这个英文句子是什么意思？ Zhège Yīngwén jùzi shì shénme yìsi?What does this English sentence mean?