参谋

• Pinyin: cān móu
• Hanzi breakdown: 参 = 厶 + 大 + 彡; 谋 = 讠(speech radical) + 某 (phonetic, meaning 'a certain one')

Meaning

Staff officer (military noun); to advise or serve as a consultant (verb). As a noun, a military officer assisting a commander in strategic planning. As a verb, to offer advice, think something through together, or serve as a sounding board.

In civilian contexts, 参谋 takes on a lighter, colloquial meaning: to help someone plan or think things over, especially about purchases, decisions, or arrangements. The phrase 帮我参谋参谋 is extremely common in everyday speech — it invites someone to weigh in and give an opinion. The military meaning remains primary in formal or official contexts.

Examples

1. 他在某集团军司令部担任作战参谋，负责制定和审核作战方案。 He serves as an operations staff officer at an army group headquarters, responsible for formulating and reviewing combat plans.
2. 买房这么大的事，你得让懂行的朋友好好帮你参谋参谋，别一个人拍脑袋。 Buying a house is such a major decision — you really need a knowledgeable friend to help you think it through carefully, not just decide on your own.
3. 她眼光独到，经常替朋友参谋穿搭，给出的建议总是既实用又有品位。 She has a sharp eye and often helps friends plan their outfits; her advice is always both practical and tasteful.

Usage Guide

Context: military, everyday, advice, planning

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 帮我参谋参谋，这两款车哪个更值得入手？(Help me think it through — which of these two cars is a better buy?)
• 他是师部的参谋，作战经验丰富，思维严密。(He is the division's staff officer — experienced in combat planning and a rigorous thinker.)

Don't Say

• 我参谋了这个项目的整体设计。(参谋 implies an advisory/consultative role, not full ownership — use 主导 or 负责设计 if you led the design yourself)

Origin & History

参 (to participate/consult) + 谋 (to plan/scheme; 谋 = 讠speech radical + 某 phonetic). Originally a military planning term; later extended to civilian advisory and consultative contexts.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal