Chinese word

想象

Pronunciation

Pinyinxiǎng xiàng

Meaning

  • verbimagine

Example

我无法想象他会这么做。wǒ wú fǎ xiǎng xiàng tā huì zhè me zuò

I can't imagine him doing that.

Illustration for 想象 (imagine)

More examples

在科学研究中，研究者需要想象新的可能性。zài kē xué yán jiū zhōng yán jiū zhě xū yào xiǎng xiàng xīn de kě néng xìng

In scientific research, researchers need to imagine new possibilities.

Core concept

The mind gives shape to what is not directly present, whether a scene, a person, or a possible outcome.

Common phrases

  • 想象不出xiǎng xiàng bù chū

    cannot imagine

  • 想象得到xiǎng xiàng de dào

    can imagine

  • 善于想象shàn yú xiǎng xiàng

    be good at imagining

Similar words

觉得jué de: Feel that something is so based on a personal impression or sense.
认为rèn wéi: Consider something true based on facts or reasoning.
想到xiǎng dào: Suddenly think of a person, thing, or idea.
幻想huàn xiǎng: Dream up an unreal situation or scene as if it were a fantasy.

Definition in Chinese

在头脑或心里形成关于人、事或情景的画面或概念；凭想法推测可能性。zài tóu nǎo huò xīn lǐ xíng chéng guān yú rén shì huò qíng jǐng de huà miàn huò gài niàn píng xiáng fǎ tuī cè kě néng xìng

Word origin

The compound 想 (xiǎng, "to think") + 象 (xiàng, "image or form") describes thought taking the shape of an image, which explains both mental pictures and imagined possibilities.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often use "think" for both ideas and judgments, but this word focuses on mentally constructing a situation rather than deciding that something is true.

Other meanings

  • imaginationnoun

Related words

  • 想象力xiǎng xiàng lìimaginationnoun

Word lists with this word