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HSK 1

想

to want; to think; to miss

verbneutral20 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
20

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.

Hear 想 in real episodes

想 appears in 20 Fluentide podcast episodes at natural native speed — each with the full Chinese script, pinyin, and line-by-line English translation.

He Asked an AI to Get Him Into a Pilates Class. It Hacked the Gym and Cancelled a Stranger's Booking.想 spoken at natural speedbeginnerHe Took Steroids, Drank 24 a Day and Never Trained Once. At His First Bodybuilding Contest, He Came Last.想 spoken at natural speedbeginnerHarry Potter Fans Left Socks at Dobby's Grave. It Moved a £430 Million Undersea Cable.想 spoken at natural speedbeginnerA Radio Caroline Worker Played King Charles's Obituary 'Out of Curiosity', Then Ran. 16 Minutes of Silence Followed.想 spoken at natural speedbeginnerAmerica's Most Fought-Over ZIP Codes Are Not the Cheap Ones. They're the Ones With Nothing for Sale.想 spoken at natural speedbeginnerHe Climbed 900 Metres of El Capitan in 2 Hours 55. He Died at 30.想 spoken at natural speedbeginner
Browse the full episode library

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

爱to love奥斯卡the Oscars / Academy Awards八eight办法method, plan帮to help比赛contest, competition便宜cheap别人other people兵soldier唱to sing车祸crash吃to eat, to take

Acquire it by listening

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