Japanese word

妄想

Pronunciation

Romajimōsō

Meaning

  • nounfantasy

Example

それはただの妄想です。so re wa ta da no mō sō de su

That's just a fantasy.

Illustration for 妄想 (fantasy)

More examples

妄想ばかりしていないで、勉強を始めましょう。mō sō ba ka ri shi te i na i de ben kyō o haji me ma shō

Stop fantasizing and start studying.

Core concept

Describes an imagined idea that exists in the mind and may range from enjoyable invention to a belief without evidence.

Common phrases

  • 妄想を抱くmō sō o ida ku

    harbor fantasies

  • 妄想が膨らむmō sō ga fuku ra mu

    one's fantasies grow

  • 妄想に浸るmō sō ni hita ru

    lose oneself in fantasies

Similar words

空想kūsō: An imagined scene or story created in the mind for pleasure or creative thought.
幻想gensō: An unreal image or belief held in the mind as if it were real.
想像sōzō: A mental picture or idea of something that is not present or real.

Definition in Japanese

現実とは異なる事柄を心の中で作り上げて思い浮かべること。また、事実に基づかない考え。gen jitsu to wa koto na ru koto gara o kokoro no naka de tsuku ri a ge te omo i u ka be ru ko to ma ta ji jitsu ni moto zu ka na i kanga e

Word origin

The compound 妄想 (mōsō) combines 妄 (mō, "delusion") with 想 (sō, "thought") to express an imagined or groundless idea.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 妄想 (mōsō) can refer to a private imagined story about events that have not happened, not only to a serious false belief.

Other meanings

  • delusionnoun
  • wild ideanoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 妄想的mōsōtekifantasticalna-adjective
  • 妄想癖mōsōkusehabit of fantasizingnoun

Word lists with this word