观念 (guānniàn)

观念 means "concept," "idea," or "notion" and refers to a belief, value, or way of thinking that is deeply held, often shaped by culture or upbringing.

Meanings

[noun] concept; notion; idea; way of thinking
[noun] value; belief (often culturally or socially shaped)

Example Sentences

传统观念在这里依然很强。 Chuántǒng guānniàn zài zhèlǐ yīrán hěn qiáng. Traditional ideas are still very strong here.

年轻人的消费观念与老一辈不同。 Niánqīngrén de xiāofèi guānniàn yǔ lǎo yībèi bùtóng. Young people's spending concepts are different from the older generation.

他的时间观念很强，从不迟到。 Tā de shíjiān guānniàn hěn qiáng, cóng bù chídào. He has a strong sense of time and is never late.

社会进步需要改变旧观念。 Shèhuì jìnbù xūyào gǎibiàn jiù guānniàn. Social progress requires changing old ideas.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
传统观念	traditional notions
时间观念	sense of time; time awareness
更新观念	to update one's thinking
价值观念	value concept; values

Usage Notes

观念 implies a more deeply rooted or culturally shaped belief than 想法 (xiǎngfǎ, idea) or 看法 (kànfǎ, opinion). It is often used in discussions of social change, generational differences, and cultural values. 时间观念强 (strong time awareness) is a common set phrase meaning someone is punctual and time-conscious.

Memory Hook

观 (guān) means "to view or observe" and 念 (niàn) means "thought or idea": a 观念 is the "idea formed by how you view things."