====== shèjì tú: 设计图 - Blueprint, Design Drawing, Plan ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  *   **Keywords:** sheji tu, 设计图, Chinese for blueprint, design drawing, architectural plan, engineering diagram, technical drawing, design schematic, floor plan in Chinese, Chinese for designer.
  *   **Summary:** "设计图 (shèjì tú)" is a fundamental Chinese noun that translates to "blueprint," "design drawing," or "schematic." It's a crucial term in any field involving creation and construction, from architecture and engineering to fashion and digital design. This page will break down what a 设计图 is, how to use it in conversation, and how it represents the meticulous planning behind modern China's development.
===== Core Meaning =====
  *   **Pinyin (with tone marks):** shèjì tú
  *   **Part of Speech:** Noun
  *   **HSK Level:** Composed of characters from HSK 2 (`图`) and HSK 4 (`设计`). The full term is essential for intermediate learners, especially in professional contexts.
  *   **Concise Definition:** A blueprint, design drawing, schematic, or technical plan used for construction or manufacturing.
  *   **In a Nutshell:** Think of **设计图** as the bridge between an idea and a physical reality. It’s not just an artistic sketch; it's a detailed, technical drawing with precise measurements and specifications. Whether you're building a skyscraper, coding an app interface, or manufacturing a car engine, the **设计图** is the master plan everyone follows.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  *   **设 (shè):** To set up, to establish, to arrange, or to design. It implies creating a structure or system.
  *   **计 (jì):** To plan, to calculate, or to strategize. It involves thinking ahead and considering details.
  *   **图 (tú):** A picture, diagram, map, or drawing.
The characters combine perfectly. **设计 (shèjì)** means "to design" (literally "to set up a plan"). Adding **图 (tú)**, "drawing," creates the compound word **设计图 (shèjì tú)**, which literally means a "design drawing."
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
While **设计图** is a modern, technical term, its prevalence speaks volumes about contemporary Chinese culture. In a country that has undergone one of the most rapid and massive building and manufacturing booms in human history, the **设计图** is a symbol of precision, ambition, and execution. It represents the meticulous planning behind the high-speed rail networks, gleaming skylines, and advanced technology that define modern China.
A useful comparison is with the English word "blueprint." While "blueprint" is a perfect translation, its use in English is sometimes more metaphorical ("the blueprint for success"). In Chinese, **设计图** is used far more frequently and broadly in its literal sense. It can refer to an architectural blueprint, but just as commonly refers to an engineering schematic, a product design, a UI mock-up for an app, or even a fashion design sketch. It underscores a practical, hands-on mindset focused on building and creating tangible things. It's less about abstract philosophy and more about the concrete plans that fuel progress.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**设计图** is a standard term in professional and everyday contexts related to making anything. Its meaning is consistent and its connotation is neutral and technical.
  *   **Architecture and Construction:** This is the most common context. You'll hear it constantly on construction sites and in architectural firms. Example: `建筑设计图` (jiànzhù shèjì tú) - architectural design drawing.
  *   **Engineering and Manufacturing:** Used for any product, from a simple gadget to complex machinery. Example: `产品设计图` (chǎnpǐn shèjì tú) - product design drawing.
  *   **Tech and Digital Design:** In the tech world, it refers to wireframes, mock-ups, and UI/UX schematics. Example: `UI设计图` (UI shèjì tú) - UI design drawing/mock-up.
  *   **Fashion and Interior Design:** Refers to sketches and plans for clothing or spaces. Example: `室内设计图` (shìnèi shèjì tú) - interior design plan.
===== Example Sentences =====
  *   **Example 1:**
    *   这张**设计图**是谁画的？
    *   Pinyin: Zhè zhāng **shèjì tú** shì shéi huà de?
    *   English: Who drew this blueprint?
    *   Analysis: A simple, common question. Note the measure word `张 (zhāng)` is used for flat objects like paper or drawings.
  *   **Example 2:**
    *   工人们必须严格按照**设计图**施工。
    *   Pinyin: Gōngrénmen bìxū yángé ànzhào **shèjì tú** shīgōng.
    *   English: The workers must carry out the construction strictly according to the design drawings.
    *   Analysis: This sentence highlights the authoritative nature of a `设计图`. It is the binding plan. `施工 (shīgōng)` means "to construct."
  *   **Example 3:**
    *   你能把最新的**设计图**发给我吗？
    *   Pinyin: Nǐ néng bǎ zuìxīn de **shèjì tú** fā gěi wǒ ma?
    *   English: Can you send me the latest version of the design plan?
    *   Analysis: A very practical sentence for any work environment. The `把 (bǎ)` structure is used to emphasize the action's effect on the object (`设计图`).
  *   **Example 4:**
    *   老板还没有批准这份**设计图**。
    *   Pinyin: Lǎobǎn hái méiyǒu pīzhǔn zhè fèn **shèjì tú**.
    *   English: The boss hasn't approved this design drawing yet.
    *   Analysis: `批准 (pīzhǔn)` means "to approve" or "to ratify," a common verb used with `设计图` in a professional context. The measure word `份 (fèn)` is also often used for documents or plans.
  *   **Example 5:**
    *   我认为这个**设计图**有一个严重的缺陷。
    *   Pinyin: Wǒ rènwéi zhège **shèjì tú** yǒu yíge yánzhòng de quēxiàn.
    *   English: I think this design plan has a serious flaw.
    *   Analysis: `缺陷 (quēxiàn)` means "flaw" or "defect." This sentence is crucial for providing feedback or raising concerns.
  *   **Example 6:**
    *   这是我们网站新主页的**设计图**。
    *   Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒmen wǎngzhàn xīn zhǔyè de **shèjì tú**.
    *   English: This is the design mock-up for our website's new homepage.
    *   Analysis: Shows the term's use in the digital world. `主页 (zhǔyè)` means "homepage."
  *   **Example 7:**
    *   工程师正在根据**设计图**检查零件。
    *   Pinyin: Gōngchéngshī zhèngzài gēnjù **shèjì tú** jiǎnchá língjiàn.
    *   English: The engineer is checking the parts against the design diagram.
    *   Analysis: `根据 (gēnjù)` means "according to" or "based on," similar to `按照 (ànzhào)`. `零件 (língjiàn)` means "parts" or "components."
  *   **Example 8:**
    *   这份**设计图**的细节还不够清楚。
    *   Pinyin: Zhè fèn **shèjì tú** de xìjié hái búgòu qīngchǔ.
    *   English: The details of this design drawing are not yet clear enough.
    *   Analysis: `细节 (xìjié)` means "details." A `设计图` is expected to have clear and precise details.
  *   **Example 9:**
    *   在开始生产之前，我们需要最终的**设计图**。
    *   Pinyin: Zài kāishǐ shēngchǎn zhīqián, wǒmen xūyào zuìzhōng de **shèjì tú**.
    *   English: Before starting production, we need the final design plan.
    *   Analysis: This illustrates the sequential process: final `设计图` comes before `生产 (shēngchǎn)`, "production."
  *   **Example 10:**
    *   没有**设计图**，我很难向你解释它的工作原理。
    *   Pinyin: Méiyǒu **shèjì tú**, wǒ hěn nán xiàng nǐ jiěshì tā de gōngzuò yuánlǐ.
    *   English: Without a diagram, it's very difficult for me to explain its working principle to you.
    *   Analysis: This shows how `设计图` can also refer to a diagram that explains a concept, not just builds an object. `工作原理 (gōngzuò yuánlǐ)` is "working principle."
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
A common mistake for beginners is to confuse **设计图** with other types of drawings.
  *   **`设计图 (shèjì tú)` vs. `画 (huà)`**
    *   **设计图** is a technical plan for building or making something.
    *   **画 (huà)** is a general term for a drawing or painting, usually artistic or non-technical.
    *   **Incorrect:** `我们按照这幅画来盖房子。` (Wǒmen ànzhào zhè fú huà lái gài fángzi.) - "We will build the house according to this painting." (This sounds absurd, as if using a Picasso to build a house).
    *   **Correct:** `我们按照这张设计图来盖房子。` (Wǒmen ànzhào zhè zhāng shèjì tú lái gài fángzi.) - "We will build the house according to this blueprint."
  *   **`设计图 (shèjì tú)` vs. `草图 (cǎotú)`**
    *   **设计图** is the final, detailed, and official plan.
    *   **草图 (cǎotú)** is a "rough sketch" or "draft." It's the initial idea, not the final instruction.
    *   **Context:** You might say, `我先画一个草图，然后再把它变成最终的设计图。` (Wǒ xiān huà yíge cǎotú, ránhòu zài bǎ tā biànchéng zuìzhōng de shèjì tú.) - "I'll draw a rough sketch first, and then turn it into the final design plan."
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  *   [[设计]] (shèjì) - The root word, meaning the verb "to design" or the noun "a design." **设计图** is the physical/digital output of a **设计**.
  *   [[图纸]] (túzhǐ) - A very close synonym, meaning "drawing" or "blueprint." Literally "drawing paper." Often used interchangeably with **设计图**, especially when referring to physical paper copies.
  *   [[蓝图]] (lántú) - The literal word for "blueprint" (from the original blue-colored architectural prints). While it can mean a literal **设计图**, it's more often used metaphorically for a grand plan or vision (e.g., a company's five-year **蓝图**).
  *   [[草图]] (cǎotú) - A "rough sketch" or "draft." This is the preliminary stage before a final, detailed **设计图** is made.
  *   [[施工图]] (shīgōngtú) - A "construction drawing." This is a highly specific and detailed type of **设计图** used by construction workers on-site.
  *   [[平面图]] (píngmiàntú) - A "floor plan" or "layout plan." A specific type of **设计图** that shows a top-down view of a space.
  *   [[设计师]] (shèjìshī) - The "designer." This is the person who creates the **设计图**.
  *   [[方案]] (fāng'àn) - A "plan," "scheme," or "proposal." This term refers more to the overall strategy, ideas, and methods, whereas **设计图** is the specific visual and technical document.