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March 24, 2026
理想lǐxiǎng(li3xiang3)
理想 (lǐxiǎng) refers to an ideal or a dream, often representing one's aspirations or the perfect state one wishes to achieve. Commonly used in contexts like personal goals, career ambitions, and philosophical discussions about what constitutes a good life, it conveys a sense of striving for excellence and fulfillment.
Frequency#3498DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
理想 is often referenced in the context of Chinese philosophies that emphasize the pursuit of virtue and personal development, such as Confucianism. It reflects the cultural value placed on self-improvement and societal contribution.
Memory Tip
Think of 理 (lǐ) as 'reason' or 'logic' and 想 (xiǎng) as 'to think' or 'to dream.' Imagine a scholar deeply thinking about the 'perfect' life they aspire to achieve, where their logic aligns with their dreams. The character's components suggest a thoughtful pursuit of ideals.
Meanings of 理想
lǐxiǎng(li3xiang3)
1a dream
2an ideal
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About 理想
理想Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#3498Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 理想
Podcast: 理想
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AI Study Notes for 理想
Quick Contrast
理想 (lǐxiǎng) vs 目标 (mùbiāo) — use 理想 for broader aspirations or dreams, while 目标 refers to specific, measurable objectives.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 理 (lǐ) as 'reason' or 'logic' and 想 (xiǎng) as 'to think' or 'to dream.' Imagine a scholar deeply thinking about the 'perfect' life they aspire to achieve, where their logic aligns with their dreams. The character's components suggest a thoughtful pursuit of ideals.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 理想 with 梦想 (mèngxiǎng), which specifically means 'dream' in the sense of aspirations that may be less grounded. 理想 is more about achievable ideals. It is often used in both formal and informal registers, but the context should dictate its usage.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 理想 connects to other words relating to dreams, goals, and values. Students should focus on its usage in sentences about personal aspirations and understand its nuances compared to similar terms.
Cultural Note
理想 is often referenced in the context of Chinese philosophies that emphasize the pursuit of virtue and personal development, such as Confucianism. It reflects the cultural value placed on self-improvement and societal contribution.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 理想 with other similar words like 目标 (mùbiāo) meaning 'goal.' For example, saying '我的目标是一名医生' (My goal is to be a doctor) is incorrect if they intend to express a broader ideal or aspiration, in which case 理想 should be used.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 理想
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Grammar Patterns of 理想
理想 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
The drama takes an idealistic, even a naive view of the subject.
9
他并非看不见问题的理想主义者。
tā bìng fēi kàn bù jiàn wèn tí de lǐ xiǎng zhǔ yì zhě。
He is not such an idealist that he cannot see the problems.
10
较年长的母亲往往对身为人母的乐趣过于理想化。
jiào nián cháng de mǔ qīn wǎng wǎng duì shēn wéi rén mǔ de lè qù guò yú lǐ xiǎng huà。
Older mothers tend to be too idealistic about the pleasures of motherhood.
Cultural Notes for 理想
🏮Cultural insight
理想 is often referenced in the context of Chinese philosophies that emphasize the pursuit of virtue and personal development, such as Confucianism. It reflects the cultural value placed on self-improvement and societal contribution.
Frequently Asked Questions about 理想
You can say, '我的理想是成为一名医生' (My ideal is to become a doctor).
Yes, 理想 is appropriate for both written and spoken contexts, though it may appear more frequently in formal discussions.
Typically, 理想 describes goals or aspirations rather than character traits, so it's more common to use it in contexts about dreams or ideals.
