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想 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
想xiǎngto thinkHSK 1, v, 13 strokes, radical 心, rank #20, Easy
想xiǎngto believeHSK 1, v, 13 strokes, radical 心, rank #20, Easy
想xiǎngto supposeHSK 1, v, 13 strokes, radical 心, rank #20, Easy
想xiǎngto wishHSK 1, v, 13 strokes, radical 心, rank #20, Easy
想xiǎngto wantHSK 1, v, 13 strokes, radical 心, rank #20, Easy
想xiǎngto miss (feel wistful about the absence of sb or sth)HSK 1, v, 13 strokes, radical 心, rank #20, Easy
想xiǎngto believe, to wish for; to consider, to plan, to thinkHSK 1, v, 13 strokes, radical 心, rank #20, Easy
xiǎng(xiang3) T3
  1. 1to think
  2. 2to believe
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
想xiǎng(xiang3)

The character 想 (xiǎng) primarily means 'to think' or 'to want.' It is commonly used to express desires, wishes, or thoughts about something or someone, often in the context of longing or missing someone. This verb can reflect both cognitive processes and emotional states.

Strokes13Radical心Frequency#20DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, expressing longing or missing someone is often articulated through 想, especially in contexts of family and relationships, highlighting the importance of emotional connections. This is reflected in many songs and poetry that discuss missing loved ones.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person sitting and thinking deeply, with a thought bubble above their head. The left side of 想 has the radical for 'heart' (心), symbolizing emotional thinking, while the right side suggests the action of thinking. Picture them wishing for something they miss, reinforcing both the meaning and the sound 'xiǎng.'

Meanings of 想

xiǎng(xiang3)
1to think
2to believe
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 想

想Simplified
13Strokes
心Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#20Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L1HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 想

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Podcast: 想

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 想

Quick Contrast

想 (xiǎng) vs 认为 (rènwéi) — use 想 for expressing desires or thoughts, while 认为 is for expressing opinions or beliefs.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person sitting and thinking deeply, with a thought bubble above their head. The left side of 想 has the radical for 'heart' (心), symbolizing emotional thinking, while the right side suggests the action of thinking. Picture them wishing for something they miss, reinforcing both the meaning and the sound 'xiǎng.'

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 想 with other similar verbs like 要 (yào), which means 'to want' in a more direct context. 想 is often used in informal conversations, while its formal equivalents would be more context-specific. Pay attention to the context to avoid using it incorrectly in formal writing.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 1 word, 想 is foundational for expressing desires and thoughts. Students should practice using it in simple sentences, such as '我想吃' (I want to eat) or '我想家' (I miss home), to build confidence in conversation.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, expressing longing or missing someone is often articulated through 想, especially in contexts of family and relationships, highlighting the importance of emotional connections. This is reflected in many songs and poetry that discuss missing loved ones.

Common Mistakes

A frequent mistake is using 想 when you mean to express a need or obligation, as in 'I need to go' instead of '我想去' (I want to go). The correct phrase for a necessity would be '我需要去' (I need to go).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 想

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Etymology of 想

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 心 represents the meaning and 相 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

mind

Semantic (meaning)心
+
Phonetic (sound)相
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 想?

Decomposition of 想

IDS Structure⿱相心
想Full Character
=
相Xiang1
top
心xin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 想?

Write 想

想

Practice writing 想 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 想

想 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.

Related grammar lessons6
是…的 emphasis是 + [V] + 的
HSK 3

Used to emphasize the action of wanting or thinking.

我是想去的。

wǒ shì xiǎng qù de.

I really want to go.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

我____学中文。

I'd like to learn Chinese.

Common Confusions with 想

想vs相
xiāng

Similar pronunciation but different meanings.

想 implies a desire or thought, while 要 indicates a stronger intention or requirement.

1

我想去，但我也要工作。

想 implies a desire or thought, while 要 indicates a stronger intention or requirement.

💡想 (xiǎng) is softer, like a wish; 要 (yào) is firmer, like a demand.
Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "to think"?

or

Usage Notes for 想

Mixing up 想 with other verbsCommon Error

Learners often confuse 想 with other verbs like 要 or 喜欢, resulting in incorrect expressions of desire.

1

我想去商店。

I want to go to the store.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill in the Blank

我____去商店。

I want to go to the store.

Example Sentences for 想 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我和诺特曼讨论了这个想法的可行性。

wǒ hé nuò tè màn tǎo lùn le zhè gè xiǎng fǎ de kě háng xìng。

Knotman and I discussed the practicability of the idea.
2
你是什么样的人和你想成为什么样的之间的差距就是，你做了什么。

nǐ shì shí mó yàng de rén hé nǐ xiǎng chéng wéi shí mó yàng de zhī jiān de chà jù jiù shì， ， nǐ zuò le shí。

The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do.
3
“我想发份电报。”——“好的，发给谁？”

“ “ wǒ xiǎng fā fèn diàn。”——“ bào 。”——“， hǎo de ，？”

"I want to send a telegram." — "Fine, to whom?"
4
我想让门前的花园变得五彩缤纷。

wǒ xiǎng ràng mén qián de huā yuán biàn dé wǔ cǎi bīn fēn。

I wanted the front garden to be a blaze of colour.
5
我们得为50万名顾客的利益着想。

wǒ mén dé wéi50 50 wàn míng gù kè de lì yì zháo。

We have the interest of 500,000 customers to think of.
6
电影以写实开头，然后却发展成为荒诞的幻想。

diàn yǐng yǐ xiě shí kāi tóu， ， rán hòu què fā zhǎn chéng wéi huāng dàn de huàn。

The film starts off realistically and then develops into a ridiculous fantasy.
7
养育孩子的现实经常与浪漫的理想大相径庭。

yǎng yù hái zǐ de xiàn shí jīng cháng yǔ làng màn de lǐ xiǎng dà xiāng jìng tíng。

The reality of mothering is frequently very different from the romantic ideal.
8
我想你或许想要读一下信封里的内容。

wǒ xiǎng nǐ huò xǔ xiǎng yào dú yī xià xìn fēng lǐ de nèi róng。

I thought you might like to read the enclosed.
9
事情并不理想，但你只能指望这样了。

shì qíng bìng bù lǐ xiǎng， ， dàn nǐ zhī néng zhǐ wàng zhè yàng。

Things aren't ideal, but that's the best you can hope for.
10
你之所以妒忌是因为唱片公司拒绝接受你的想法。

nǐ zhī suǒ yǐ dù jì shì yīn wéi chàng piàn gōng sī jù jué jiē shòu nǐ de xiǎng fǎ。

You're jealous because the record company rejected your idea.

Cultural Notes for 想

💡Did you know?

'想' is often used in everyday conversations to express wishes and desires. For example, when someone says '我想去看电影', it means 'I want to go watch a movie'. This reflects how much value Chinese culture places on leisure and entertainment.

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, expressing longing or missing someone is often articulated through 想, especially in contexts of family and relationships, highlighting the importance of emotional connections. This is reflected in many songs and poetry that discuss missing loved ones.

📜Proverb

In Chinese culture, there is a saying: '心想事成' (xīn xiǎng shì chéng) which translates to 'what the heart desires will come true'. This emphasizes the belief in the power of thoughts and desires.

Word Family of 想

Words Containing This Character20
想xiǎngto think
思想sīxiǎngthought
想到xiǎngdàoto think of
不想unexpectedly
想法xiǎngfǎopinion
想要to want to
梦想mèngxiǎngdream夢想
想起xiǎngqǐto recall
想象xiǎngxiàngto imagine
理想lǐxiǎngan ideal
想念xiǎngniànto miss
联想liánxiǎngto associate (cognitively)聯想
幻想huànxiǎngdelusion
毛泽东思想Maoism毛澤東思想
想不到xiǎngbudàounexpected
设想shèxiǎngto imagine設想
想见to infer想見
回想huíxiǎngto recall
心想to think
想来it may be assumed that想來
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 想 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 想

想 (xiǎng) is often used to express wishes or thoughts, while 要 (yào) is more direct and indicates a want or need. For instance, '我想喝水' (wǒ xiǎng hē shuǐ) means 'I want to drink water,' but '我需要水' (wǒ xūyào shuǐ) means 'I need water.' Understanding the nuance between these words can help you communicate more effectively.