想 (xiǎng) — to want to; would like to; to think; to believe (that); to miss (someone)
Definition
想 covers three common uses: 'want to' (想去 = want to go), 'think/believe' (a casual opinion, weaker than 认为), and 'miss' (someone absent). For willingness, 愿意 emphasizes being willing, while 想 is simply wanting.
verb
to want towould like toto thinkto believe (that)to miss (someone)
Examples
- 想。Wǒ xiǎng qù zhōng guó.I want to go to China.
- 想。Wǒ hěn xiǎng mā ma.I miss my mom very much.
- 想。Wǒ xiǎng zhè shì yì běn hǎo shū.I think this is a good book.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
想 has 心 (heart, mind) below 相 (to look at); the shape shows the mind looking at or considering something, and 相 also gives the sound.
Grammar
Appears in
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