Chinese word

想

Pronunciation

Pinyinxiǎng

Meaning

  • verbthink

Example

我想他很聪明。wǒ xiǎng tā hěn cōng míng

I think he is very smart.

Illustration for 想 (think)

More examples

我不想去上班。wǒ bù xiǎng qù shàng bān

I don't want to go to work.

Core concept

A mind brings a person or possibility into focus and holds it there for thought, desire, or longing.

Common phrases

  • 想家xiǎng jiā

    miss home

  • 不想bù xiǎng

    not want to

Similar words

要yào: Express a desire to have something.
喜欢xǐ huān: Feel that someone or something is pleasant and appealing.

Definition in Chinese

在脑中形成对人或事的判断或看法；在口语中也常用来表示想做某事或想念某人。zài nǎo zhōng xíng chéng duì rén huò shì de pàn duàn huò kàn fǎ zài kóu yǔ zhōng yě cháng yòng lái biǎo shì xiǎng zuò mǒu shì huò xiǎng niàn mǒu rén

Word origin

The character 想 (xiǎng, "think, want, or miss") is made from 相 (xiāng, "look at") + 心 (xīn, "heart or mind"), linking inner thought with something held in the mind.

Usage tips

  • English often uses separate verbs for these meanings, but Chinese uses one common verb here, so the following words and the situation supply the clue.

Other meanings

  • wantverb
  • missadjective

Word lists with this word