A formal or literary noun for an idea, conception, or thought, often used in phrases such as 想を得る or 想を練る. In everyday conversation, 考え or アイデア is usually more natural.
samjna; perception
Buddhist technical term for saṃjñā, commonly explained as perception or recognition; listed as one of the 五蘊.
See also: 五蘊
He got the idea for his new novel from an experience during his travels.
The writer got the idea for a story while traveling.
The poet developed the conception for a poem while looking at the moon.
In Buddhism, samjna is regarded as one of the five aggregates.
While taking a walk, a new idea suddenly came to my mind.
構想 means a structured plan or overall conception with clear form, while 想 can refer to a more general or poetic idea.
相 (そう) means an aspect, phase, or physiognomy and is pronounced identically to 想, so learners may confuse the two despite their unrelated meanings.
Attested kanji form with the on-reading そう. As a standalone noun it is more formal or literary than everyday 考え or アイデア.
A Sino-Japanese noun using the on-reading そう of 想. The kanji is conventionally associated with thinking, imagining, and mental impressions; no historical derivation is specified.
fantasy; illusion; vision; dream
plan; concept; vision
association of ideas; being reminded; suggestion
meditation; contemplation
daydream; fantasy; fancy; vision
recollection; retrospection; reminiscence
remembering; recollection; calling to mind · anamnesis · recall (memory); retrieval
dream; vision; reverie
conception; idea
unsociable; unfriendly; blunt; surly; curt; cold; brusque
nocturne
thought; idea; conception
recollection; reminiscence
meditation; silent contemplation
fantastical idea; fanciful notion; bizarre thought
random thoughts; essay; miscellaneous writing
musical theme; motif
think of; hit upon; come up with
surmise; conjecture; speculation
longing; yearning
falling in love; attachment