若有所思

ruòyǒu-suǒsī

idiom #46,549

Meanings

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

Characters

to think; thought

Examples

HSK 3

听完老师的话，他若有所思地点了点头。

Tīng wán lǎoshī de huà, tā ruòyǒu-suǒsī de diǎn le diǎntóu.

After hearing what the teacher said, he nodded thoughtfully.

HSK 7-9

她望着窗外，若有所思。

Tā wàng zhe chuāngwài, ruòyǒu-suǒsī.

She gazed out the window, looking pensive.

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