若有所思

ruòyǒusuǒsī

idiom #46,549

Meanings

1 as if thinking about something
2 looking pensive; deep in thought

Characters

to think; thought

Examples

她望着窗外，若有所思。

Tā wàng zhe chuāng wài, ruòyǒusuǒsī.

She gazed out the window, looking pensive.

听完老师的话，他若有所思地点了点头。

Tīng wán lǎoshī de huà, tā ruòyǒusuǒsī de diǎn le diǎn tóu.

After hearing what the teacher said, he nodded thoughtfully.

Tips

history

From Tang-dynasty author Chen Hong's (陈鸿) 《长恨歌传》, describing Yang Guifei's spirit: 玉妃茫然退立，若有所思 — 'The Jade Consort stood in quiet retreat, lost in thought.'

grammar

Pattern: usually adverbial with 地 — 若有所思地 + verb (点头, 看, 沉默). Also stands alone after a subject to describe an expression: 他若有所思.

Stroke Order

若 ruò

有 yǒu

所 suǒ

思 sī