若有所思
若有所思 (ruò yǒu suǒ sī) literally means “as if having something think” and expresses “lost in thought with a contemplative expression”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: ruo you suo si, ruo you suo si,若有所思 meaning, 若有所思 in english
Lost in thought with a contemplative expression
Pronunciation: ruò yǒu suǒ sī Literal meaning: As if having something think
Origin & Usage
As if (若) there were (有) something (所) being thought about (思). The construction is careful and does the work: it describes an appearance rather than a mental state, so what is being reported is a face, not a thought. That is why it is nearly always used of somebody else. Chinese narrative uses it at the moment a character goes quiet in the middle of a conversation, and the reader is told exactly what the observer can see and no more.
Examples
English: "After receiving the news, she stared out the window with a contemplative expression"
Chinese: 收到消息后，她若有所思地望着窗外
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
洞若观火
dòng ruò guān huǒ
Understand with absolute clarity
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百思不解
bǎi sī bù jiě
Unable to understand despite much thought
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居安思危
jū ān sī wēi
Be prepared for danger in times of safety
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朝思暮想
zhāo sī mù xiǎng
Think about constantly; yearn for
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左思右想
zuǒ sī yòu xiǎng
Ponder thoroughly
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落叶归根
luò yè guī gēn
Return to one's roots; go back home
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前所未有
qián suǒ wèi yǒu
Unprecedented; never seen before
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入木三分
rù mù sān fēn
Profoundly penetrating insight
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 若有所思 mean in English?
若有所思 (ruò yǒu suǒ sī) literally translates to “As if having something think” and is used to express “Lost in thought with a contemplative expression”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 若有所思 used?
Situation: After receiving the news, she stared out the window with a contemplative expression
What is the pinyin for 若有所思?
The pinyin pronunciation for 若有所思 is “ruò yǒu suǒ sī”.
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