筹

• Pinyin: chóu
• Hanzi breakdown: 筹 = ⺮ (bamboo) + 寿 (longevity, phonetic) = counting stick/to plan

Meaning

To plan; to raise (funds); a counter or chip used in games.

Core morpheme in many planning and fundraising words: 筹备 (prepare), 筹划 (plan), 筹集 (raise funds), 筹码 (chip). Rarely used alone in modern Chinese except in set phrases.

Examples

1. 公司正在筹资建设新的生产线。 The company is raising funds to build a new production line.
2. 他们统筹全局，步步为营。 They coordinated the overall situation, advancing step by step.
3. 这件事需要从长计筹。 This matter requires long-term planning.

Usage Guide

Context: business, planning, finance

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我们需要筹更多资金才能启动项目。(We need to raise more funds before we can launch the project.)
• 这次活动由市政府统筹安排。(This event is coordinated and arranged by the city government.)

Don't Say

• 我筹一下 (Too vague — use specific compounds like 筹备, 筹划, 筹集 instead)

Origin & History

Originally meant bamboo counting sticks used for calculation. Extended to mean planning and calculating, then to raising resources.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal