规划 (guīhuà)

规划 conveys the idea of comprehensive, systematic planning over a longer horizon, and is frequently used in government policy, urban development, and strategic business contexts.

Meanings

[verb] to plan; to map out; to blueprint
[noun] a plan; a blueprint; a development scheme

Example Sentences

城市规划对居民的生活质量有重大影响。 Chéngshì guīhuà duì jūmín de shēnghuó zhìliàng yǒu zhòngdà yǐngxiǎng. Urban planning has a major impact on residents' quality of life.

政府发布了未来五年的经济发展规划。 Zhèngfǔ fābù le wèilái wǔ nián de jīngjì fāzhǎn guīhuà. The government released an economic development plan for the next five years.

我们需要认真规划公司的长远发展方向。 Wǒmen xūyào rènzhēn guīhuà gōngsī de chángyuǎn fāzhǎn fāngxiàng. We need to carefully plan the company's long-term development direction.

这片土地已被规划为住宅区。 Zhè piàn tǔdì yǐ bèi guīhuà wéi zhùzhái qū. This land has been designated as a residential area in the plan.

合理规划时间是提高效率的关键。 Hélǐ guīhuà shíjiān shì tígāo xiàolǜ de guānjiàn. Properly planning your time is the key to improving efficiency.

他从大学起就开始规划自己的职业生涯。 Tā cóng dàxué qǐ jiù kāishǐ guīhuà zìjǐ de zhíyè shēngyá. He began planning his career from the time he started university.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
城市规划 (chéngshì guīhuà)	urban planning
发展规划 (fāzhǎn guīhuà)	development plan
五年规划 (wǔ nián guīhuà)	five-year plan
职业规划 (zhíyè guīhuà)	career planning
总体规划 (zǒngtǐ guīhuà)	overall plan; master plan

Usage Notes

规划 implies a more comprehensive and systematic process than 计划 (jìhuà, plan). While 计划 can refer to any plan, big or small, 规划 typically involves long-term, large-scale, or strategic planning, often at an institutional or governmental level.

As a noun it often collocates with scope words like 总体 (overall), 长远 (long-term), and specific domains like 城市 (urban) or 职业 (career).

Memory Hook

规 (rules/compass) + 划 (to draw lines): drawing precise lines according to rules -- systematic planning.