Meaning
思想 refers to thoughts, ideas, or ideologies in both abstract and concrete senses. It encompasses mental activity, philosophical concepts, and systematic belief systems. As a noun, it often appears in political, philosophical, or educational contexts to describe someone's thinking or a school of thought.
Usage
思想 is commonly used in formal or semi-formal contexts, especially when discussing intellectual content, political ideologies, or someone's worldview. It frequently appears in phrases like 思想家 (thinker), 思想工作 (ideological work), and 解放思想 (liberate one's thinking). In everyday conversation, 想法 is often preferred for casual ideas or opinions.
Examples
- 01我们要尊重每个人的思想自由。.We should respect everyone's freedom of thought.
- 02这本书介绍了中国古代的哲学思想。.This book introduces ancient Chinese philosophical thought.
Characters
Measure words
- 种一种思想
- 个一个思想
Common collocations
- 思想家thinker, philosopher
- 政治思想political ideology
- 思想观念ideas and concepts
- 传统思想traditional thinking
Origin
Both characters relate to thinking: 思 originally depicted the heart/mind (心) carefully considering something, while 想 combines 相 (mutual/examine) with 心 (heart), suggesting looking into one's heart or mind.