思考

• Pinyin: sī kǎo
• Hanzi breakdown: 思 = 田 (field) + 心 (heart/mind), meaning to think with one's heart; 考 = 老 (old) + 丂 (phonetic), meaning to examine

Meaning

To think; to ponder; to reflect on. Deep, careful thinking about something.

Implies careful, deep, or prolonged thinking, as opposed to casual thought. Used for serious deliberation on problems, questions, or life decisions. More formal and deeper than 想, which can mean casual thinking.

Examples

1. 这个问题需要好好思考一下。 This question requires careful thought.
2. 他坐在那里安静地思考了很久。 He sat there quietly pondering for a long time.
3. 老师鼓励学生独立思考。 The teacher encourages students to think independently.

Usage Guide

Context: education, philosophy, work

Tone: reflective

Do Say

• 让我再思考思考，明天给你答复。(Let me think it over; I'll give you an answer tomorrow.)
• 多思考才能找到更好的解决办法。(More thinking leads to better solutions.)

Don't Say

• 我在思考今天中午吃什么。(Don't use 思考 for trivial decisions like what to eat — use 想 or 考虑. 思考 implies deep reflection.)

Origin & History

Compound of 思 (to think) and 考 (to examine, to test), both relating to mental activity.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal