建议

• Pinyin: jiàn yì
• Hanzi breakdown: 建 = 廴 + 聿 — to establish, put forward; 议 = 讠(speech) + 义 (righteousness, meaning) — to discuss with principle

Meaning

To suggest; to propose; to recommend. Also used as a noun meaning 'suggestion' or 'proposal.'

建议 is both a verb and a noun. As a verb it is followed by a subject and a verb phrase: 我建议你早点出发 (I suggest you leave early). As a noun it appears in phrases like 提建议 (offer a suggestion), 接受建议 (accept a suggestion), 有什么建议 (have any suggestions). It is the standard polite way to make recommendations in both spoken and written Chinese.

Examples

1. 我建议你多喝水，对身体好。 I suggest you drink more water — it's good for your health.
2. 老师提出了几条很有用的建议。 The teacher offered several very useful suggestions.
3. 如果你有什么建议，请随时告诉我。 If you have any suggestions, please feel free to let me know.

Usage Guide

Context: work, everyday, education, advice, meetings

Tone: polite

Do Say

• 我建议大家提前准备好材料。(I suggest everyone prepare the materials in advance.)
• 你有什么好的建议吗？(Do you have any good suggestions?)

Don't Say

• 我命令建议你这样做。(Don't combine 建议 with commanding language like 命令 — 建议 is a polite recommendation, not an order. Use 建议 alone or soften with 希望.)

Origin & History

Compound of 建 (to establish, to put forward) and 议 (to discuss, to deliberate). Together they mean 'to put forward for discussion' — to formally propose something for consideration.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal