The word 设想 is formed through the conceptual combination of its two component characters: 设, which carries the core meaning of "to set up" or "to establish", and 想, which means "to think" or "to conceive". Their fusion creates a sequential, cause-and-effect idea: one first establishes a framework (设) in the mind upon which to project one's thoughts (想). It is not merely "thinking", but a structured mental act of envisioning something by deliberately setting up a hypothetical scenario or plan in one's imagination. Thus, the formation embodies the process of constructing a thought-project, moving from a foundational setup to a detailed mental conception.