假设 (jiǎshè) — assumption; hypothesis; suppose

假设 (jiǎshè)

假设 refers to a hypothesis or assumption that is supposed to be true for the purpose of argument or investigation, and as a verb it means "to suppose" or "to assume," introducing a hypothetical scenario.

Meanings

1. [noun] hypothesis; assumption (a supposition taken as a starting point for reasoning or investigation)
2. [verb] to suppose; to assume; to hypothesize (to posit something as true for the sake of argument)

Example Sentences

科学研究通常从一个假设出发，通过实验来验证其正确性。 Kēxué yánjiū tōngcháng cóng yī gè jiǎshè chūfā, tōngguò shíyàn lái yànzhèng qí zhèngquèxìng. Scientific research typically starts from a hypothesis and verifies its correctness through experiments.

假设你明天要进行一场重要演讲，你会做哪些准备工作？ Jiǎshè nǐ míngtiān yào jìnxíng yī chǎng zhòngyào yǎnjiǎng, nǐ huì zuò nǎxiē zhǔnbèi gōngzuò? Suppose you have an important speech tomorrow; what preparations would you make?

经济学家建立了一个模型，基于几个关键假设来预测市场的未来走势。 Jīngjìxuéjiā jiànlìle yī gè móxíng, jīyú jǐ gè guānjiàn jiǎshè lái yùcè shìchǎng de wèilái zǒushì. The economists built a model based on several key assumptions to predict the future trend of the market.

假设这项技术能够成功商业化，它将彻底改变能源行业的格局。 Jiǎshè zhè xiàng jìshù nénggòu chénggōng shāngyèhuà, tā jiāng chèdǐ gǎibiàn néngyuán hángyè de géjú. Assuming this technology can be successfully commercialized, it will completely change the landscape of the energy industry.

这个假设过于简单，忽略了现实中存在的许多复杂因素。 Zhège jiǎshè guòyú jiǎndān, hūlüèle xiànshí zhōng cúnzài de xǔduō fùzá yīnsù. This assumption is too simplistic and ignores many complex factors that exist in reality.

在法律中，无罪推定原则意味着对被告无罪的假设，除非有证据证明有罪。 Zài fǎlǜ zhōng, wúzuì tuīdìng yuánzé yìwèizhe duì bèigào wúzuì de jiǎshè, chúfēi yǒu zhèngjù zhèngmíng yǒuzuì. In law, the presumption of innocence means assuming the defendant is innocent unless there is evidence proving guilt.

Collocations

Usage Notes

假设 functions as both a noun (a hypothesis or assumption) and a verb (to suppose or assume). As a verb, it commonly introduces hypothetical scenarios in argumentation or analysis, similar to "suppose" or "assuming that" in English. It is used in both spoken and written Chinese, though more formally in academic and professional contexts.

假设 in academic Chinese writing is often used to introduce the assumptions underlying a model or argument. In conditional sentences, 假设 can introduce the condition, similar to 如果 (if), but with a stronger sense of it being an assumption for argument's sake rather than a real conditional.

Memory Hook

假 (false/hypothetical) + 设 (to set up/establish) — 假设 is to "set up a hypothetical situation," i.e., to suppose or hypothesize.