概念 (gàiniàn)

概念 refers to an abstract concept, notion, or mental construct used to categorize, understand, or communicate about aspects of reality, serving as a building block of thought and discourse.

Meanings

[noun] concept, notion, idea (abstract mental representation)
[noun] understanding, awareness (of a particular domain)

Example Sentences

"可持续发展"是二十世纪末提出的重要概念。 "Kě chíxù fāzhǎn" shì èrshí shìjì mò tíchū de zhòng yào gàiniàn. "Sustainable development" is an important concept put forward at the end of the twentieth century.

学生需要先掌握基本概念，才能深入理解复杂理论。 Xuéshēng xūyào xiān zhǎngwò jīběn gàiniàn, cái néng shēnrù lǐjiě fùzá lǐlùn. Students need to first master basic concepts before they can deeply understand complex theories.

不同文化背景的人对"家庭"这一概念的理解各不相同。 Bùtóng wénhuà bèijǐng de rén duì "jiātíng" zhè yī gàiniàn de lǐjiě gè bù xiāngtóng. People from different cultural backgrounds have different understandings of the concept of "family."

他对时间管理完全没有概念，总是迟到。 Tā duì shíjiān guǎnlǐ wánquán méiyǒu gàiniàn, zǒngshì chídào. He has absolutely no sense of time management and is always late.

这本书系统地梳理了西方哲学的核心概念。 Zhè běn shū xìtǒng de shūlǐ le xīfāng zhéxué de héxīn gàiniàn. This book systematically organizes the core concepts of Western philosophy.

清晰地界定概念是严谨学术写作的基础。 Qīngxī de jièdìng gàiniàn shì yánjǐn xuéshù xiězuò de jīchǔ. Clearly defining concepts is the foundation of rigorous academic writing.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
基本概念	basic concept
核心概念	core concept
新概念	new concept
没有概念	to have no sense/awareness of
界定概念	to define a concept
更新概念	to update/refresh one's concept

Usage Notes

概念 refers to abstract mental constructs and is the fundamental vocabulary of intellectual and academic discourse. In colloquial usage, 没有概念 means "to have no idea/sense of something" (他对钱没有概念 -- he has no concept of money/is careless with money). In academic contexts, precisely defining 概念 is considered essential for rigorous argument.

At B2 level, 概念 is essential for philosophical, scientific, and academic writing, and for discussing abstract ideas and definitions.

Memory Hook

概 means a general overview or outline, and 念 means thought or notion -- 概念 is the general thought outline, the mental shorthand we use to capture and communicate an idea.