想象 (xiǎngxiàng)

想象 means to imagine or picture something in the mind, and as a noun it means imagination -- the creative faculty of forming mental images.

Meanings

[verb] to imagine; to picture
[noun] imagination

Example Sentences

你能想象未来是什么样子吗？ Nǐ néng xiǎngxiàng wèilái shì shénme yàngzi ma? Can you imagine what the future will look like?

他有丰富的想象力。 Tā yǒu fēngfù de xiǎngxiànglì. He has a rich imagination.

这个故事超出了我的想象。 Zhège gùshi chāochūle wǒ de xiǎngxiàng. This story went beyond my imagination.

小孩子喜欢想象各种奇怪的事情。 Xiǎo háizi xǐhuān xiǎngxiàng gèzhǒng qíguài de shìqing. Young children love to imagine all kinds of strange things.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
想象力	imagination (ability)
发挥想象	to let imagination run
超出想象	beyond imagination
难以想象	hard to imagine

Usage Notes

想象 is used as a verb (想象+clause/noun) and as a noun (我的想象 = my imagination). The compound 想象力 (xiǎngxiànglì) specifically means the capacity for imagination, like a skill or talent. The phrase 难以想象 (hard to imagine) is very commonly used to express disbelief or amazement.

Memory Hook

XIANG (想 = think/want) + XIANG (象 = image/elephant): thinking in images -- that is imagination.