‘企图’ (qǐ tú) literally combines ‘企’ (qǐ), meaning ‘to stand on tiptoe’ or ‘to aspire’, and ‘图’ (tú), meaning ‘plan’, ‘scheme’, or ‘diagram’. Together, they convey the sense of making a deliberate, often covert or ambitious attempt—especially one that is questionable, illegal, or unlikely to succeed. Unlike neutral words like ‘尝试’ (chángshì, ‘to try’), ‘企图’ carries a distinctly negative or suspicious connotation, implying intentionality and frequently moral or legal impropriety.

The word functions as both a noun (e.g., ‘a plot’) and a verb (e.g., ‘to attempt’), usually followed by a verb phrase: 企图逃跑 (qǐ tú táo pǎo, ‘attempt to escape’). It appears frequently in news reports, legal contexts, and literature describing deception, ambition, or subterfuge. While it can technically describe any effort, native speakers reserve it for attempts with an undercurrent of risk, secrecy, or disapproval—never for ordinary, harmless actions like ‘trying a new food’.