设想 shèxiǎng to imagine
to imagine; to assume; to envisage; tentative plan; to have consideration for
How to remember 设想: 设 to build + 想 think about = to imagine.
Characters
How it is used
- To envisage / imagine a scenario, or a tentative idea - 设想一下 (shèxiǎng yíxià) just imagine.
- Hypothetical planning: picturing how something might be or go, hence a proposed idea: 大胆的设想 (dàdǎn de shèxiǎng) a bold vision.
- Also 'to consider (someone's needs)': 为别人设想 (wèi biérén shèxiǎng) to think of others. More deliberate than 想象 (xiǎngxiàng, to imagine freely).
Example sentences
- 我有一个设想。 Wǒ yǒu yígè shèxiǎng.I had a vision.