Comparing "xiangfa" and "zhuyi"

想法 (xiǎngfǎ) and 注意 (zhǔyi) are both nouns that are often translated as "idea." 想法 is used more in informal settings, whereas 注意 is used in both informal and formal settings. 想法 is more of a thought or opinion, whereas 注意 is the classic "idea" (think "good idea!" as in a response to a plan that someone else proposes).

B1HSK4ASV4567

	想法 (xiǎngfǎ)	主意 (zhǔyi)
Meaning	thought, opinion	idea
Part of Speech	noun	noun
Formality	informal	flexible

:Yes

Use 主意 (zhǔyi) for the classic "good idea"

Think of the friend who says, “let’s go out tonight” and you respond, “good idea!” This one is going to be used a lot in brainstorming sessions as well.

Common Phrases

• 好 主意！Hǎo zhúyi ！Good idea!

Discussing ideas and solutions may also involve these other phrases:

• 出 主意chū zhúyito come up with an idea
• 想 主意xiǎng zhúyito think of ideas
• 有 主意yǒu zhúyito have an idea
• 没 主意méi zhúyino ideas

Example Sentences

• 这 是 一 个 好 主意。Zhè shì yī gè hǎo zhúyi.It's a good idea.
• 我 觉得 这个 主意 太 好 了。Wǒ juéde zhège zhúyi tài hǎo le.I think it's a great idea.
• 他们 对 我 的 主意 感兴趣。Tāmen duì wǒ de zhúyi gǎnxìngqù.They were interested in my idea.
• 她 为什么 改变 主意 了？Tā wèishénme gǎibiàn zhúyi le?Why did she change her mind?
• 你 有没有 主意 了? 说 给 大家 听听。Nǐ yǒuméiyǒu zhúyi ？ Shuō gěi dàjiā tīngtīng.Do you have an idea? Tell us all about it.
• 他想了很多 主意，但是都不行。Tā xiǎng le hěn duō zhúyi, dànshì dōu bù xíng.He's thought of a lot of ideas, but none of them work.
• 我 有 主意 了，我 待会儿 告诉 你。Wǒ yǒu zhúyi le, wǒ dāihuìr gàosu nǐ.I've got an idea, I'll tell you later.
• 对 这件 事 我 没 什么 主意，你 自己 再 想想 吧！Duì zhè jiàn shì wǒ méishénme zhúyi, nǐ zìjǐ zài xiǎngxiǎng ba!I don't have any ideas about this, think about it yourself!
• 我 不 知道 应该 怎么 做？你 帮 我 出 一 个 主意 吧！Wǒ bù zhīdào yīnggāi zěnme zuò? nǐ bāng wǒ chū yī gè zhúyi ba!I don't have any ideas about this, think about it yourself!
• 上周 老板 同意 给 我 放假，但是 现在 改 主意 了。Shàngzhōu lǎobǎn tóngyì gěi wǒ fàngjià, dànshì xiànzài gǎi zhúyi le.Last week my boss agreed to give me time off, but now he's changed his mind.

Use 想法 (xiǎngfǎ) to say "thoughts" or "opinion"

想法 is less of a light bulb moment, and can be more complex. If you're discussing your views on race relations in the USA, or pros and cons of various possible vacation possibilities, these are 想法.

Common Phrases

• 我的 想法wǒ de xiǎngfǎmy thoughts
• 这个 想法zhège xiǎngfǎthis idea
• 好 想法hǎo xiǎngfǎgood idea

Example Sentences

• 我们觉得你的这个 想法 很好。Wǒmen juéde nǐ de zhège xiǎngfǎ hěn hǎo.We think this is a great idea you have.
• 这是我的 想法，大家觉得怎么样？Zhè shì wǒ de xiǎngfǎ, dàjiā juéde zěnmeyàng?Here are my thoughts, what do you all think?
• 关于这件事大家有什么好 想法 吗？ 每个人都想一下。Guānyú zhè jiàn shì dàjiā yǒu shénme hǎo xiǎngfǎ ma? měi gèrén dōu xiǎng yīxià.Does anyone have any good ideas about this matter? Everyone think about it.
• 在这件事上，我和你的 想法 相反。Zài zhè jiàn shì shàng, wǒ hé nǐ de xiǎngfǎ xiāngfǎn.I am the opposite of you in this matter.
• 这是一个自私的 想法，我只能偷偷地想一下。Zhè shì yī gè zìsī de xiǎngfǎ, wǒ zhǐnéng tōutōu de xiǎng yīxià.It's a selfish thought and I can only think about it in secret.
• 虽然他不同意我的 想法，但是最后他还是勉强同意了。Suīrán tā bù tóngyì wǒ de xiǎngfǎ, dànshì zuìhòu tā háishì miǎnqiǎng tóngyì le.Although he didn't agree with my idea, he reluctantly agreed in the end.
• 这个 想法 太离谱了，根本不可能。Zhège xiǎngfǎ tài lípǔ le, gēnběn bù kěnéng.The idea is so outrageous that it's impossible.
• 你可以简单地说一下你的 想法 吗？Nǐ kěyǐ jiǎndān de shuō yīxià nǐ de xiǎngfǎ ma?Can you simply say what you think?
• 孩子往往不会隐藏心里的真实 想法 。Háizi wǎngwǎng bù huì yǐncáng xīnli de zhēnshí xiǎngfǎ.Children often do not hide what is really in their hearts.
• 在这个问题上，英国人和美国人的 想法 非常不一样。Zài zhège wèntí shàng, Yīngguórén hé Měiguó rén de xiǎngfǎ fēicháng bù yīyàng.The British and the Americans think very differently on this issue.

Sources and further reading

Websites

主意是什么意思 http://www.ichacha.net/hy/%E4%B8%BB%E6%84%8F.html

想法 http://www.cihai123.com/cidian/1069353.html