前思后想

前思後想

qiánsī-hòuxiǎng

idiom

Meanings

1 to think over and over
2 to weigh a decision from every angle

Characters

Examples

HSK 3

这件事我前思后想了一整夜。

Zhè jiàn shì wǒ qiánsī-hòuxiǎng le yì zhěngyè.

I turned this matter over in my mind the whole night.

HSK 5

他前思后想，最后决定辞职。

Tā qiánsī-hòuxiǎng, zuìhòu juédìng cízhí.

After thinking it over and over, he finally decided to resign.

Tips

history

Attested in Li Ruzhen's Qing-dynasty novel 《镜花缘》 (chapter 66): 他既得失心重，未有不前思后想 - 'Since his mind is so fixated on gain and loss, he can only keep turning things over and over.'

Stroke Order

前 qián

思 sī

后 hòu

想 xiǎng