About
The Chinese word **算计** is a compound formed by combining two semantically related characters: **算**, which means "to calculate" or "to compute," and **计**, which means "to plan" or "to scheme." This structure follows a common pattern in Chinese where two verbs with similar or complementary meanings are joined to create a single, more nuanced term. Together, they extend the literal sense of numerical calculation (**算**) into the broader, more abstract realm of planning, scheming, or strategizing (**计**), often implying a shrewd, meticulous, or sometimes sly form of planning aimed at gaining personal advantage or anticipating outcomes. Thus, the compound captures both the process of deliberate mental reckoning and its potentially manipulative intent.