Chinese idiom · 成语
深思熟虑
Meaning
Deep thought, careful consideration; thorough deliberation.
Character by character
Origin and story
Literary usageThe components occur separately in earlier texts. The Fisherman, a literary dialogue involving Qu Yuan, speaks of deep thought in questioning his refusal to conform to the world. The Records of the Grand Historian uses careful deliberation when Xu Jia urges the Marquis of Rang to reconsider attacking Wei.
The complete idiom is documented in Song writing. In a memorial, Sima Guang asks the emperor to think carefully about the burden placed on impoverished people, warning that hunger and cold can lead to disorder. The expression thus concerns sustained, thorough consideration, not a guarantee of success. It can describe prudent private choices as readily as public decisions.
Sources and further reading
In everyday life
经过深思熟虑，我们决定先租房，再考虑买房。
After careful consideration, we decided to rent first and consider buying later.
For careful, sustained deliberation before a decision.