考虑 (kǎo lǜ) is a transitive verb meaning 'to consider' or 'to think about something carefully before making a decision.' The character 考 (kǎo) originally meant 'to examine' or 'to test,' while 虑 (lǜ) means 'to think deeply' or 'to worry' — together, they convey thoughtful, deliberate reflection. It’s commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when weighing options, planning actions, or responding to suggestions.

This verb typically takes a noun phrase or clause as its object, often introduced by the particle ‘一下’ (yí xià) for softening — e.g., ‘考虑一下’ (‘consider for a moment’) — which makes requests sound more polite and less demanding. It frequently appears in discussions about life choices, work decisions, travel plans, or interpersonal matters, and is rarely used in isolation without an object or complement.