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N3

Kanji 想: meanings, readings, and example words.

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Kanji 想: idea, thought, conception, think

Key takeaways

Kanji 想: idea, thought, conception, think. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

N3

Meaning

ideathoughtconceptionthink

On reading

ソウ

Kun reading

おも.う

Radical

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 想

idea, thought, conception, think

Kanji structure breakdown

Structure breakdown

相 + 心

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

To hold the appearance (相) of something in your heart (心) is to 'think' or 'imagine.' It represents the act of visualizing an image or concept within your mind.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

ソウ
  • 愛想あいそ

    courtesy / friendliness / social grace

  • 可哀想かわいそう

    pitiable / poor / pathetic

  • 構想こうそう

    plan / concept / idea

  • 予想よそう

    expectation / prediction / forecast

  • 感想かんそう

    impressions / thoughts / opinions

  • 空想くうそう

    daydream / fantasy / imagination

  • 発想はっそう

    way of thinking / idea

  • 思想しそう

    thought / idea / ideology

Commonly used words

  • 愛想
    あいそ

    courtesy / friendliness / social grace

  • 可哀想
    かわいそう

    pitiable / poor / pathetic

  • 構想
    こうそう

    plan / concept / idea

  • 予想
    よそう

    expectation / prediction / forecast

  • 感想
    かんそう

    impressions / thoughts / opinions

  • 空想
    くうそう

    daydream / fantasy / imagination

Example sentences

Example 1

彼女は愛がよくて人気がある。

Translation

She is friendly and popular.

Example 2

店員の愛が悪くて残念だった。

Translation

The clerk's bad attitude was disappointing.

Example 3

あの子はかわいそうだね。

Translation

That child is pitiable.

Example 4

彼の話を聞いてかわいそうに思った。

Translation

I felt sorry for him when I heard his story.

Kanji 想: idea, thought, conception, think | Daily Nihongo