{"id":181325,"date":"2012-07-25T00:25:10","date_gmt":"2012-07-25T04:25:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/i-think-in-mandarin\/"},"modified":"2025-02-23T06:28:57","modified_gmt":"2025-02-23T11:28:57","slug":"i-think-in-mandarin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/chinese\/i-think-in-mandarin\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide to \u60f3 vs \u89c9\u5f97 in Chinese"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Chinese, there are two ways to say “I think”: \u6211\u60f3\u00a0<\/strong>(w\u01d2 xi\u01ceng)<\/em> and \u6211\u89c9\u5f97 <\/strong>(w\u01d2 ju\u00e9 de).<\/em><\/p>\n

But they’re not used the exact same. Here are what the two words mean and how to use each one correctly. I’ll explain each, give simple example sentences and finish with important takeaways.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1. \u6211\u60f3 (w\u01d2 xi\u01ceng)<\/em> \u2014 I think, reckon, hope, miss<\/h2>\n

There are many meanings of this one humble phrase. First, \u6211\u60f3 translates to “I think.” But if we’re being more precise, it means something more like “I reckon,” “I imagine” or “I suppose.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

It usually indicates that you believe or speculate something to be true, but haven’t verified it with evidence.<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

\u8ba9\u6211\u60f3<\/strong>\u4e00\u4e0b\u3002
\n(r\u00e0ng w\u01d2 xi\u01ceng<\/strong> y\u012b xi.)<\/em>
\nLet me\u00a0think for a moment.<\/p>\n

\u6211\u60f3<\/strong>\u660e\u5929\u53ef\u80fd\u4f1a\u4e0b\u96e8\u3002
\n(w\u01d2 xi\u01ceng m\u00edng ti\u0101n k\u011b n\u00e9ng hu\u00ec xi\u00e0 y\u01d4.)<\/em>
\nI suppose it might rain tomorrow.<\/p>\n

\u8fd9\u6bd4\u6211\u60f3<\/strong>\u7684\u66f4\u597d\uff01
\n(zh\u00e8 b\u01d0 w\u01d2 xi\u01ceng<\/strong> de g\u00e8ng h\u01ceo!)<\/em>
\nThis is better than I imagined!<\/p>\n

Second, \u6211\u60f3 can also mean “I want” or “I would like to.” It’s not completely synonymous with \u6211\u8981 <\/strong>(w\u01d2 y\u00e0o<\/em> \u2014 I want), but \u6211\u60f3 can show your wish or hope for something to occur.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

\u6211\u60f3<\/strong>\u5206\u624b\u3002
\n(w\u01d2 xi\u01ceng<\/strong> f\u0113nsh\u01d2u.)<\/em>
\nI\u00a0want to break up.<\/p>\n

\u4f60\u60f3<\/strong>\u5403\u5c31\u5403\u5427\uff01
\n(n\u01d0 xi\u01ceng<\/strong> ch\u012b ji\u00f9 ch\u012b ba!)<\/em>
\nIf you\u00a0want\u00a0to eat, just eat!<\/p>\n

Finally, the third major use of \u6211\u60f3 is to show you miss, yearn or long for something.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

\u6211\u5728\u56fd\u5916\u7279\u522b\u60f3<\/strong>\u5bb6\u4eba\u3002
\n(w\u01d2 z\u00e0i gu\u00f3 w\u00e0i t\u00e8 bi\u00e9 xi\u01ceng<\/strong> ji\u00e0 r\u00e9n.)<\/em>
\nI really miss my family when I’m abroad<\/p>\n

2. \u6211\u89c9\u5f97 (w\u01d2 ju\u00e9 de)<\/em> \u2014 I think, feel<\/h2>\n

The first use of \u6211\u89c9\u5f97 indicates you are expressing a falsifiable opinion or assertion. You have mulled over a set of facts and have settled on a conclusion. It is your opinion or judgment, and it’s settled in your mind.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

\u6211\u89c9\u5f97<\/strong>\u4e2d\u6587\u5f88\u96be\u5b66\u3002
\n(w\u01d2 ju\u00e9 de<\/strong> zh\u014dn gw\u00e9n h\u011bn n\u00e1n xu\u00e9.)<\/em>
\nI think studying Chinese is hard<\/p>\n

\u6211\u89c9\u5f97<\/strong>\u8fd9\u6761\u88d9\u5b50\u5f88\u597d\u770b\u3002
\n(w\u01d2 ju\u00e9 de<\/strong> zh\u00e8 ti\u00e1o q\u00fan zi h\u011bn h\u01ceo k\u00e0n.)<\/em>
\nI think this skirt is really nice<\/p>\n

\u6211\u89c9\u5f97<\/strong>\u8fd9\u5bb6\u9910\u5385\u5f88\u597d\u5403\uff0c \u4f60\u89c9\u5f97\u5462\uff1f
\n(w\u01d2 ju\u00e9 de<\/strong> zh\u00e8 ji\u0101 c\u0101n t\u012bng h\u011bn h\u00e0o ch\u012b, n\u01d0 ju\u00e9 de<\/strong> ne?)<\/em>
\nI think this restaurant is great, what do you think?<\/p>\n

Second,\u00a0\u6211\u89c9\u5f97\u00a0can also be used to express a feeling, sensation or perception. <\/strong>Whether you feel hungry, tired, scared or excited, you should use \u6211\u89c9\u5f97.<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

\u6211\u89c9\u5f97<\/strong>\u6709\u70b9\u51b7\u3002
\n(w\u01d2 ju\u00e9 de<\/strong> y\u01d2u di\u01cen l\u011bng.)<\/em>
\nI feel a bit cold.<\/p>\n

\u65e9\u9910\u6ca1\u6709\u5403\uff0c\u73b0\u5728\u6211\u89c9\u5f97<\/strong>\u597d\u997f\u554a\uff01
\n(z\u01ceo c\u0101n m\u00e9i y\u01d2u ch\u012b, xi\u00e0n z\u00e0i w\u01d2 ju\u00e9 de<\/strong> h\u01ceo \u00e8 a!)<\/em>
\nI didn’t eat breakfast, now I feel so hungry!<\/p>\n

\u6211\u8d8a\u60f3\u8fd9\u4ef6\u4e8b\u60c5, \u8d8a\u89c9\u5f97<\/strong>\u4f24\u5fc3\u3002
\n(w\u01d2 yu\u00e8 xi\u01ceng zh\u00e8 ji\u00e0n sh\u00ec q\u00edng, yu\u00e8 ju\u00e9 de<\/strong> sh\u0101ng x\u012bn.)<\/em>
\nThe more I think about this, the more hurt I feel.<\/p>\n

When to Use \u60f3 vs. \u89c9\u5f97 in Chinese<\/h2>\n

Here are some tips to remember. And for even more examples of vocabulary in use, you can check out the videos and learning tools on FluentU<\/a>.

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