Japanese word

想像力

Pronunciation

Romajisōzōryoku

Meaning

  • nounimagination

Example

彼は想像力が豊かです。kare wa sō zō ryoku ga yuta ka de su

He has a vivid imagination.

Illustration for 想像力 (imagination)

More examples

新しい体験は、想像力を大きく刺激します。atara shi i tai ken wa sō zō ryoku o ō ki ku shi geki shi ma su

New experiences greatly stimulate the imagination.

Core concept

Describes the mental ability to form ideas, scenes, or possibilities that are not directly present to the senses.

Common phrases

  • 想像力を働かせるsō zō ryoku o hatara ka se ru

    exercise one's imagination

  • 想像力を膨らませるsō zō ryoku o fuku ra ma se ru

    expand one's imagination

  • 想像力を刺激するsō zō ryoku o shi geki su ru

    stimulate the imagination

  • 想像力を駆使するsō zō ryoku o ku shi su ru

    make full use of one's imagination

Similar words

空想力kūsōryoku: The ability to form images and possibilities that are not limited by current reality.
創造力sōzōryoku: The ability to develop something new by combining ideas in an original way.
発想力hassōryoku: The ability to come up with useful or original ideas.

Definition in Japanese

実際には目の前にない事柄や状況を心の中に思い描く力。jis sai ni wa me no mae ni na i koto gara ya jō kyō o kokoro no naka ni omo i ega ku chikara

Word origin

想像力 (sōzōryoku) combines 想 (sō, "thought"), 像 (zō, "image"), and 力 (ryoku, "power").

Usage tips

  • In English, imagination refers both to the ability to form mental ideas and to the creative ideas produced by that ability, including those behind stories and inventions.

Word lists with this word