verb / noun HSK 5
Traditional 構思
gòu
to conceive · to work out a plan · conception · idea · creative thinking

Meaning

构思 refers to the mental process of forming ideas, planning, or conceptualizing something creative or complex, especially in artistic, literary, or design contexts. As a verb, it means to think through and develop a concept; as a noun, it refers to the conception or creative idea itself.

Usage

This word is commonly used in formal or creative contexts when discussing writing, art, design, film, or any project requiring careful planning and imagination. Writers might say they're 构思 a novel, or designers might discuss the 构思 behind their work. It carries a sense of careful, deliberate creative thinking rather than spontaneous thought.

Examples

  1. 01
    他正在构思一部新小说。
    zhèngzài gòu xīn xiǎoshuō.
    He is conceiving a new novel.
  2. 02
    这个设计的构思非常巧妙。
    Zhège shèjì de gòu fēicháng qiǎo miào.
    The conception of this design is very ingenious.

Characters

Measure words

  • 一个构思

Common collocations

  • 构思新颖
    gòu xīn yǐng
    conception is novel/original
  • 构思巧妙
    gòu qiǎo miào
    conception is ingenious
  • 精心构思
    jīng xīn gòu
    to carefully conceive
  • 构思阶段
    gòu jiē duàn
    conception stage

Origin

The word combines 构 (to construct/form) with 思 (to think), literally meaning 'to construct thoughts' or 'to form ideas,' which directly reflects its meaning of conceptualizing or conceiving plans.

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