想 xiǎng think about
think about; to want; to miss; to reckon
How to remember 想: 相 mutual + 心 heart = think about. Two doctors keep mutually glancing at each other over the patient's heart, both confused and trying to think about what to do next.
Component breakdown
想 = 相 mutual + 心 heart
- 相 mutual
- 木 tree
- 目 eye
- 心 heart
Two doctors keep mutually glancing at each other over the patient's heart, both confused and trying to think about what to do next.
How it is used
- Three linked senses: 'want to' - 想去 (xiǎng qù) want to go; 'think/reckon' - 我想是的 (wǒ xiǎng shì de) I think so; 'miss' - 想家 (xiǎng jiā) be homesick.
- As a wish it's softer and more tentative than 要 (yào): 想 leans 'would like to', 要 leans 'intend/must'.
- In compounds it means thought/imagination: 理想 (lǐxiǎng) ideal, 想象 (xiǎngxiàng) imagine, 想念 (xiǎngniàn) long for.
Words with 想
- 理想lǐxiǎngidealHSK 4
- 想法xiǎngfǎway of thinkingHSK 4
- 梦想mèngxiǎngto dream ofHSK 4
- 思想sīxiǎngthoughtHSK 5
- 想念xiǎngniànto missHSK 5
- 想象xiǎngxiàngto imagineHSK 5
- 幻想huànxiǎngto fantasizeHSK 6
- 感想gǎnxiǎngimpressionsHSK 6
- 联想liánxiǎngto associate ideasHSK 6
- 设想shèxiǎngto imagineHSK 6
- 休想xiūxiǎngdon't think (that)HSK 7
- 可想而知kěxiǎng’érzhī(it) goes without sayingHSK 7
- 回想huíxiǎngto recallHSK 7
- 心想事成xīnxiǎng-shìchéngto have one's wishes come trueHSK 7
- 思前想后sīqián-xiǎnghòuto consider past cause and future effectHSK 7
- 意想不到yìxiǎng-búdàounexpectedHSK 7
- 着想zhuóxiǎngto give thought (to others)HSK 7
- 空想kōngxiǎngdaydreamHSK 7
- 妄想wàngxiǎngto attempt vainlyHSK 8
- 异想天开yìxiǎng-tiānkāito imagine the wildest thingHSK 8
- 想方设法xiǎngfāng-shèfǎto think up every possible method (idiom)HSK 8
- 猜想cāixiǎngto guessHSK 8
- 构想gòuxiǎngto conceiveHSK 9
- 胡思乱想húsī-luànxiǎngto indulge in flights of fancy (idiom)HSK 9
Example sentences
- 你在想什么？ Nǐ zài xiǎng shénme?What are you thinking about?
- 我不想和你说再见。 Wǒ bù xiǎng hé nǐ shuō zàijiàn.I don't want to say goodbye to you.
- 我想打篮球。 Wǒ xiǎng dǎ lánqiú.I want to play basketball.
- 她想当老师。 Tā xiǎng dāng lǎoshī.She wants to become a teacher.