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HSK 1

想

to want; to think; to miss

verbneutral3 episodes
想
xiǎng3rd tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
xiǎng
Part of speech
verb
Level
HSK 1
Strokes
13
Register
neutral
In episodes
3

Stroke order for 想

想 is written with 13 strokes. The animation replays automatically.

What does 想 mean?

想 (xiǎng) is one of the most versatile HSK 1 verbs.

It carries three related senses that English splits across separate words. (1) 'To want to / would like to' — followed by another verb: 我想去 ('I want to go'), 我想吃饭 ('I'd like to eat'). This is softer than 要 (yào, 'want / will'); 想 expresses a wish or inclination, while 要 expresses a firmer want or plan. (2) 'To think (that) / consider' — followed by a thought: 我想这是对的 ('I think this is right').

(3) 'To miss / long for' someone or something: 我想你 ('I miss you'). The same character, same tone — context tells you which sense. Beginners should remember: 想 + verb = want to do something; 想 + person = miss that person; 想 + clause = think that something is the case.

Memory hook: 想 has 心 (heart) on the bottom and 相 (mutual / appearance) on top — your heart pictures something, so you 'think of' / 'want' / 'miss' it.

Hear 想 in real episodes

想 appears in 3 Fluentide podcast episodes at natural native speed. Each sentence plays at the easiest difficulty it exists in — switch it to hear the same moment at your level, with full pinyin and English throughout.

后来他想：我要做车。

Later he thought: I am going to make cars.

The Man Who Bought Volvo Just Handed His Carmaker to Someone Who Is Not Family

Difficulty
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他说：我想看。

He says: I would like to see them.

A Museum Wouldn't Show George Lucas the Painting He Asked For, So He Spent Fifteen Years and a Billion Dollars Building His Own

Difficulty
Play the whole episode

两年前，公司想做一个新的东西。

Two years ago, the company had a new idea.

Klarna Rehires Humans After AI Replaces 700 Agents

Difficulty
Play the whole episode
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Example sentences

我想吃中国菜。

Wǒ xiǎng chī Zhōngguó cài.

I'd like to eat Chinese food.

spoken

我想你。

Wǒ xiǎng nǐ.

I miss you.

spoken

我想这本书很好。

Wǒ xiǎng zhè běn shū hěn hǎo.

I think this book is good.

neutral

你想去哪儿？

Nǐ xiǎng qù nǎr?

Where do you want to go?

spoken

Common phrases with 想

我想wǒ xiǎngI want to / I think
想你xiǎng nǐmiss you
想一想xiǎng yi xiǎngthink about it for a moment
不想bù xiǎngdon't want to
想家xiǎng jiāmiss home; be homesick

Synonyms

要yào

要 is a stronger 'want / will / need to.' 我要去 sounds like 'I'm going to go' (decided). 我想去 sounds like 'I'd like to go' (wish). For ordering at a restaurant, 要 is direct ('I'll have…'); 想 is more tentative ('I'd like to try…').

觉得juéde

Both can mean 'think,' but 觉得 means 'feel / have the impression that' — closer to opinion. 想 leans toward considering or wanting. For 'I think it's good,' 我觉得很好 is more natural than 我想很好.

希望xīwàng

希望 means 'to hope' — a stronger, more distant wish. 我希望你来 ('I hope you'll come') vs 我想你来 ('I want you to come'). 希望 implies uncertainty; 想 is a simpler wish.

Don't confuse 想 with

像xiàng

像 (xiàng, fourth tone) means 'to resemble / be like' and looks similar to 想 (note the 人 radical on 像 vs the 心 on 想). 他像他爸爸 ('he looks like his dad') is totally different from 他想他爸爸 ('he misses his dad').

要yào

Beginners default to 要 for all 'want' situations. But 想 + verb ('want to do') is often softer and more polite than 要 + verb. At a tea shop: 我想要一杯茶 (polite); 我要一杯茶 (direct, fine but blunter).

FAQ

Related words from the same episodes

别人someone else博物馆museum车car城市city电脑computer电影film对right; correct儿子son分钟minute高兴happy给to give公司company

Acquire it by listening

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