verb / noun HSK 4
to think · to consider · thought · to miss (someone)
Meaning
思 is a fundamental character meaning 'to think' or 'thought.' It appears in many compounds related to mental processes, contemplation, and emotion. When used alone, it often carries a literary or formal tone, though it's common in everyday compound words.
Usage
思 rarely appears alone in modern spoken Chinese. It's most commonly seen in two-character compounds like 思考 (to think deeply), 思念 (to miss someone), or 意思 (meaning). In classical Chinese and formal writing, it can stand alone as a verb meaning 'to think' or 'to contemplate.'
Examples
- 01我常常思念家乡的亲人。.I often miss my relatives back in my hometown.
- 02这个问题值得我们深思。.This question is worth our deep consideration.
Common collocations
- 思来想去to think over and over
- 不假思索without thinking, immediately
- 深思熟虑to think deeply and carefully
Origin
The character 思 is composed of 田 (field) on top and 心 (heart) on the bottom, suggesting the idea of the heart or mind working like a cultivated field—orderly thought and contemplation.