想 meaning in English

xiǎng

to think (about); to think of; to devise

HSK 1verb13 strokes

Meaning of 想

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

xiǎng

to think (about)
to think of; to devise
to think (that); to believe (that)
to desire; to want (to)
to miss (feel wistful about the absence of)

How to use 想

想 is one of the most common verbs in Chinese. It can mean to think, to want to do something, or to miss someone, depending on what follows it. Example: 我想你。(Wǒ xiǎng nǐ.) I miss you.

想 (xiǎng) has 相 (xiāng) on top and 心 (xīn, heart) below. Picture your heart under a face you keep picturing: when you think of or miss someone, their image sits on your heart.

Common mistake: Learners often write 相 (xiāng) when they mean 想 (xiǎng) and forget the 心 at the bottom. Also keep the third tone: 想 is xiǎng, not xiāng.

想 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

我wǒ想xiǎng知zhī道dào安ān何hé时shí会huì来lái。

I wonder when Anne will come.

是shì。我wǒ也yě是shì这zhè么me想xiǎng的de。

Yes, I think so, too.

我wǒ想xiǎng让ràng这zhè次cì变biàn得de不bù一yí样yàng。

I want it to be different this time.

我wǒ这zhè样yàng想xiǎng是shì对duì的de吗ma？

Am I correct in thinking thus?

我wǒ真zhēn的de真zhēn的de很hěn想xiǎng你nǐ。

I really miss you a lot.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

想 xiǎng · to think · 13 strokes

Related words

Words that share a character with 想.

想法	xiǎngfǎ	way of thinking; opinion; notion; to think of a way (to do sth)
想到	xiǎngdào	to think of; to call to mind
想起	xiǎngqǐ	to recall; to think of
理想	lǐxiǎng	an ideal; a dream
思想	sīxiǎng	thought; thinking
想象	xiǎngxiàng	to imagine; to envision; imagination
梦想	mèngxiǎng	(fig.) to dream of; dream
没想到	méi xiǎngdào	didn't expect
想念	xiǎngniàn	to miss; to remember with longing
感想	gǎnxiǎng	impressions; reflections
设想	shèxiǎng	to imagine; to assume
联想	liánxiǎng	to associate (cognitively); to make an associative connection

Questions about 想

What does 想 mean?

想 (xiǎng) means "to think (about); to think of; to devise" and is used as a verb.

How do you write 想?

想 is made of 1 character: 想 (13 strokes). That is 13 strokes in total.

Is 想 an HSK word?

Yes. 想 is on the HSK 1 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

What is the difference between 想 and 要 when saying I want?

想 (xiǎng) sounds softer, like would like to or am thinking of doing. 要 (yào) is firmer and shows a stronger intention or a decision. 我想喝茶 (Wǒ xiǎng hē chá) is a gentle wish, while 我要喝茶 (Wǒ yào hē chá) sounds more definite.

How do I say I think that in Chinese using 想?

Put a full sentence after 想, as in 我想他不会来 (Wǒ xiǎng tā bú huì lái), I think he won't come. In this sense 想 means to believe or suppose. 觉得 (juéde) is also very common for giving an opinion.