devise

Compared meaning: think up or create something new (verb).

比较义项：想出、设计或制订出新的事物、方法或计划（动词）。

• invent

  The plainest, most neutral word for creating something new — an object, story, or game — usually through imagination; it does not suggest cleverness, difficulty, or dishonesty like the others here.

  这是最普通、最中性的说法，指想出全新的事物——实物、故事或游戏——通常凭想象力完成；不像其余几个词那样带有巧妙、费力或欺骗的意味。

  Children often invent imaginary games when they are bored at home.

  孩子们在家感到无聊时，常常会自己发明假想游戏。

• devise 本词

  Suggests deliberate mental effort to design a method or system for solving a specific practical problem; commonly paired with 'plan', 'method', or 'system' in technical contexts.

  强调经过认真思考，设计出解决具体实际问题的方法或系统；常与“计划”“方法”“系统”搭配，多用于技术性场合。

  The team devised a simple system for tracking inventory.

  团队设计出了一套简单的库存跟踪系统。

• formulate

  Emphasizes working out an idea or plan carefully, step by step, and stating it in clear, precise terms; typically used with 'plan', 'policy', or 'theory' in formal settings.

  强调仔细、逐步地制订出一个想法或计划，并将其清楚、精确地表达出来；常与“计划”“政策”“理论”搭配，多用于正式场合。

  The government formulated a new policy to reduce pollution.

  政府制订了一项新政策以减少污染。

• contrive

  Suggests achieving a plan or reason through cleverness or scheming, often to reach a hidden goal; carries a hint of artificiality unlike the more neutral 'invent' or 'devise'.

  强调靠耍小聪明或蓄意谋划才想出一个计划或理由，往往是为了达成不便明说的目的；带有一点做作、不自然的意味，不同于较为中性的 invent 或 devise。

  She contrived a reason to visit his office every afternoon.

  她想方设法找了个借口，每天下午都去他的办公室。

Invent, devise, formulate, and contrive all mean to think up something new. Invent is the plain, everyday word. Devise means designing a method for a problem. Formulate means carefully stating a plan, usually formally. Contrive means using cleverness or trickery to reach a hidden goal.

这四个词都表示“想出或创造出新的事物、方法或计划”，但语气和使用场合不同：invent 最常用、最中性，多指发明实物或凭空想出故事、游戏；devise 强调经过思考设计出解决实际问题的方法或系统；formulate 强调仔细制订并清晰表达出计划或观点，多用于正式场合；contrive 则强调费尽心机或耍小聪明才想出办法，有时带牵强、狡猾的意味。