筹 (chóu) - To plan & to prepare

筹Tone 2

chóu ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

筹 · chóu

To plan;

to prepare;

to devise;

tally or counter (for counting);

funds or resources.

To planto prepareto devise

Usage highlights

To plan and prepareTo raise fundsTo make plansTo devise strategiesChips or tallyTo raise an army

Synonyms

  • 策— plan; scheme; strategy
  • 谋— to scheme; to plan
  • 计— to calculate; plan

Antonyms

  • 废— to abandon; to discard
  • 弃— to give up; to abandon

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • We need to plan carefully for the project (筹谋).
  • They are raising funds for the school (筹款).
  • He is good at strategic planning (善于运筹).
  • The chips in gambling are called 筹码.

Collocations

  • To plan and prepare(筹备)
  • To raise funds(筹款)
  • To make plans(筹划)
  • To devise strategies(运筹)
  • Chips or tally(筹码)
  • To raise an army(筹兵)

Idioms

  • To plan and decide victory from a distance(运筹帷幄)
  • To plan carefully and ensure success(统筹兼顾)
  • To be at one's wits' end(一筹莫展)
  • To be slightly better(稍胜一筹)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to tally sticks used for counting and record-keeping in ancient China.
  • Associated with strategic planning and military tactics, as in the idiom 运筹帷幄.
  • In modern usage, strongly connected with fundraising and financial planning.

FAQ