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如意算盤

简如意算盘 · 繁如意算盤

Mandarin · pinyin rú yì suàn pán

counting one's chickens before they are hatched

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Characters in this entry

如: rú · if, supposing; as if; like, as
意: yì · thought, idea, opinion; think
算: suàn · count, calculate, figure; plan
盤: Look up this written character
盘: pán · tray, plate, dish; examine

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

2–4–4–2 · ru2 yi4 suan4 pan2

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

如意算盤 · find source passages ↗ · 如意算盘 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

jyu4 ji3 syun3 pun4

Cantonese word readings for 如意算盤. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) one's wishful thinking; counting the chickens before they are hatched

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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