Usage patterns 想そう を 得え る to come up with an idea (for a work, plan, etc.)
He got the idea for his new novel from an experience during his travels.
想そう が 浮う かぶ for an idea to come to mind
While taking a walk, a new idea suddenly came to my mind.
Expressions 想そう を 練ね る think deeply; turn over in one's mind Kanji 想 idea, thought, conception Related words 考え is the common, everyday word for a thought or opinion, while 想 is a more formal or literary term for an idea.
着想 refers specifically to the initial inspiration or idea behind a work, plan, or invention, whereas 想 is a shorter, more general and literary term for an idea.
構想 means a structured plan or overall conception with clear form, while 想 can refer to a more general or poetic idea.
Don't confuse with 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.
Word family· 47 imagination; supposition; guess
expectation; prediction; forecast; conjecture
impressions; thoughts; feelings; reactions
delusion; wild fantasy; ridiculous idea
ideal; ideals
Show 25 more Show fewer thought; idea; ideology
assumption; hypothesis; expectation
idea; conception; to conceive · way of thinking; approach; mindset · expression
imagination; supposition; virtual; potential
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
See all 47 in Explore →
Written forms 想そう Usage <1%
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 .
そう Usage 100%
Etymology 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.
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