想起 meaning in English

xiǎngqǐ

to recall; to think of

HSK 223 strokes

Meaning of 想起

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

xiǎngqǐ

to recall
to think of
to call to mind

How to use 想起

想起 is used when a memory or idea suddenly comes back to you. It usually takes an object directly, and 想起来 (xiǎng qǐlái) is a very common longer form. Example: 我想起他的名字了。(Wǒ xiǎngqǐ tā de míngzi le.) I remembered his name.

想 (xiǎng) means to think, and 起 (qǐ) means to rise or get up. When you 想起 something, a thought rises up in your mind, the way you rise in 起床 (qǐchuáng).

Common mistake: Learners often mix up 想起 and 想到 (xiǎngdào). 想起 means recalling something you already knew, while 想到 is more about an idea occurring to you or thinking of something new, as in 我没想到 (wǒ méi xiǎngdào), I didn't expect it.

想起 in example sentences

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

现xiàn在zài我wǒ想xiǎng起qǐ来lái了le。

Now I remember.

你nǐ让ràng我wǒ想xiǎng起qǐ你nǐ的de兄xiōng弟dì。

You remind me of your brother.

我wǒ每měi次cì看kàn到dào你nǐ，都dū会huì想xiǎng起qǐ我wǒ的de弟dì弟di。

Whenever I look at you, I am reminded of my younger brother.

我wǒ每měi次cì见jiàn到dào你nǐ就jiù会huì想xiǎng起qǐ你nǐ的de母mǔ亲qīn。

Every time I see you, I think of your mother.

哦ó，我wǒ才cái想xiǎng起qǐ来lái，身shēn份fèn证zhèng不bú要yào忘wàng了le带dài。

Oh, I just remembered, do not forget to bring your ID.

Stroke order for each character

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

想 xiǎng · to think · 13 strokes

起 qǐ · to rise · 10 strokes

Related words

Words that share a character with 想起.

一起	yīqǐ	(in) the same place; together; in company (with)
起来	qǐlái	to stand up; to get up; also pr. [qi3lai2]
对不起	duìbuqǐ	I'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon; to let (sb) down; to disappoint
起床	qǐchuáng	to get out of bed; to get up
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
起飞	qǐfēi	(of an aircraft or rocket) to take off; to lift off; (fig.) (of an enterprise etc) to star
理想	lǐxiǎng	an ideal; a dream
看起来	kàn qǐlái	seemingly; apparently; looks as if; appears to be; gives the impression that; seems on the
思想	sīxiǎng	thought; thinking
想象	xiǎngxiàng	to imagine; to envision; imagination
梦想	mèngxiǎng	(fig.) to dream of; dream

Questions about 想起

What does 想起 mean?

想起 (xiǎngqǐ) means "to recall; to think of".

How do you write 想起?

想起 is made of 2 characters: 想 (13 strokes), 起 (10 strokes). That is 23 strokes in total.

Is 想起 an HSK word?

Yes. 想起 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

How do I say I can't remember with 想起?

Put 不 between the two parts and add 来: 想不起来 (xiǎng bu qǐlái), I can't recall it. For example, 我想不起来他叫什么。(Wǒ xiǎng bu qǐlái tā jiào shénme.) I can't remember what he's called.

What is the difference between 想起 and 记得?

记得 (jìde) describes a state of still remembering something. 想起 describes the moment a memory comes back to you, so it often appears with 了 or words like 突然 (tūrán), suddenly.