guīhuà: 规划 - To Plan, Planning, Program

Keywords: guihua, 规划, how to say plan in Chinese, Chinese word for planning, urban planning in Chinese, career planning Chinese, long-term plan Chinese, 计划 vs 规划, Chinese five-year plan

Summary: Learn the Chinese word 规划 (guīhuà), a term that goes beyond a simple “plan.” 规划 (guīhuà) refers to a large-scale, long-term, and systematic blueprint, essential for understanding concepts from urban planning in Chinese to personal career planning. This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural significance (like China's five-year plans), and how it differs from the more common word for “plan,” 计划 (jìhuà), giving you a deeper insight into the Chinese mindset of strategic, forward-thinking development.

Pinyin (with tone marks): guīhuà

Part of Speech: Verb, Noun

HSK Level: HSK 5

Concise Definition: To map out or blueprint a large-scale, long-term project, system, or development.

In a Nutshell: While you might use 计划 (jìhuà) for your weekend plans, 规划 (guīhuà) is for the big stuff. Think of a city planner laying out a new district, a government creating a five-year economic strategy, or an individual mapping out their entire career path. It implies a comprehensive vision, a structured framework, and a long-term perspective. It’s not just about what to do, but about creating the entire system in which things get done.

规 (guī): This character's original meaning is related to a compass or a carpenter's square. It represents rules, regulations, and standards. It's the “order” part of the equation.

划 (huà): This character means to draw a line, to mark off, or to delimit an area. It's the action of creating boundaries and defining a space.

When you combine them, 规划 (guīhuà) literally means “to draw lines according to rules.” This creates a powerful visual of creating a structured, well-defined blueprint for a future project or vision. It's about imposing order and structure onto a complex idea.

规划 (guīhuà) is a cornerstone concept in modern China, reflecting a deep-seated cultural and political emphasis on long-term, collective goals. The most famous example is China's Five-Year Plans (五年规划 - wǔnián guīhuà), a series of national-level social and economic development initiatives that have shaped the country for decades. This demonstrates the term's association with top-down, state-led ambition and societal mobilization.

Comparison to Western “Strategic Planning”: In Western business or government, “strategic planning” is a similar concept. However, 规划 (guīhuà) in a Chinese context often carries a stronger sense of holistic, societal engineering and a longer time horizon. While a Western company's strategic plan might focus on outperforming competitors, a Chinese 规划 (especially from the government) is often framed as a blueprint for national rejuvenation or the harmonious development of society. It reflects a collectivist value where individual components are expected to align with a grand, overarching vision for the greater good.

规划 (guīhuà) is a formal and significant word used in specific, high-stakes contexts.

Connotation: The term is almost always positive or neutral. It implies foresight, ambition, orderliness, and intelligence. A lack of 规划 is seen as shortsighted and chaotic.

* 计划 (jìhuà) - The most critical related term. A general-purpose “plan” or “project,” usually more tactical and shorter-term than a 规划.

* 安排 (ānpái) - To arrange; arrangement. Focuses on scheduling and logistics, like arranging a meeting or a schedule. It's about putting a 计划 into a timetable.

* 设计 (shèjì) - To design; design. Refers to the creative and technical act of designing something specific (e.g., a building, a logo, a circuit). A design is often a component within a larger 规划.

* 蓝图 (lántú) - Blueprint. A very close synonym for the noun form of 规划, often used metaphorically for a grand vision or plan.

* 战略 (zhànlüè) - Strategy. Refers to the high-level, abstract thinking about how to win or achieve a major goal. It is often combined: `战略规划 (zhànlüè guīhuà)`. 战略 is the “way,” 规划 is the map.

* 方案 (fāng'àn) - Scheme, proposal. A concrete, detailed plan of action presented for approval. A 方案 is often the output of a 规划 process.

* 远景 (yuǎnjǐng) - Long-term vision; prospect. The future state or goal that a 规划 is intended to achieve.