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想想 (xiǎng xiang) — to think over, to give some thought (briefly or tentatively); to try to recall, to think back

Definition

想想 is the verb-verb reduplication of 想 — a softer, briefer 'think (it over)' or 'try to recall', lighter than a full think-through.

verb
to think overto give some thought (briefly or tentatively)to try to recallto think back

Examples

  • 想想。
    Nǐ zuì hǎo zài xiǎng xiang yí xià.
    You'd better think it over again.
  • 想想。
    Wǒ xiǎng xiang tā de diàn huà hào mǎ shì jǐ.
    I'm trying to recall what his phone number is.
  • 想想，。
    Nǐ xiān xiǎng xiang, rán hòu gào sù wǒ dá àn.
    Think about it first, then tell me the answer.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

想xiǎngthink
想xiǎngthink

The two 想 together suggest a brief, tentative thinking.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart, mind
Sound part声符shēngfú
相
相xiāng想xiǎng
Same sound today

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.

Open 想 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart, mind
Sound part声符shēngfú
相
相xiāng想xiǎng
Same sound today

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.

Open 想 →
Appears in
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