Comparing "xiangfa" and "zhuyi"

想法 and 注意 both are nouns that can be confusing because both are often translated as “idea”. Yet, upon closer look, this is not entirely correct, as these two words are very different. First off, 想法 is used in informal settings, whereas 注意 is used in informal/formal settings. As well, 想法 is a thought or opinion, whereas 注意 is the classic “idea” (good or bad, as in a response to a plan that someone else proposes), or a solution or method to solve some problem.

	想法 (xiǎngfǎ)	注意 (zhǔyi)
Meaning	thought or opinion	idea, solution, method
Part of Speech	noun	noun
Formality	informal	flexible

To say “idea” in the sense of a response to a plan that someone else proposes to uses 主意.

Think of the friend who says “let’s go out to dinner tomorrow” and you respond, “good idea, it’s been too long!”

Common Phrases

• 好主意！

To say thought or opinion use 想法

Common Phrases

• 我的想法
• 这个想法
• 好想法

To say to think of an “idea” or tell someone your thought out idea use 主意.

Common Phrases

• 出主意
• 打主意
• 拿主意

To say a solution or method to solve some problem use 主意.

Common Phrases

• 想主意
• 有主意
• 没主意
• 主意不错