How common it is
想象 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say xiǎng xiàng slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
想象是指在脑海中形成图像或想法。
Xiǎngxiàng shì zhǐ zài nǎohǎi zhōng xíngchéng túxiàng huò xiǎngfǎ.
Imagine means to form images or ideas in the mind.
Context note
我们经常用想象来描述创造性的思考，比如画画或讲故事时。
Wǒmen jīngcháng yòng xiǎngxiàng lái miáoshù chuàngzào xìng de sīkǎo, bǐrú huàhuà huò jiǎng gùshì shí.
We often use imagine to describe creative thinking, like when drawing or telling stories.
5 examples
请你想象一下，如果你是一只小鸟，你会飞到哪里去？
qǐng nǐ xiǎng xiàng yí xià， rú guǒ nǐ shì yì zhī xiǎo niǎo， nǐ huì fēi dào nǎ lǐ qù？
Please imagine, if you were a little bird, where would you fly to?
孩子们喜欢想象自己成为超级英雄。
hái zi men xǐ huan xiǎng xiàng zì jǐ chéng wéi chāo jí yīng xióng。
Children like to imagine themselves as superheroes.
在画画时，你可以自由想象任何颜色。
zài huà huà shí， nǐ kě yǐ zì yóu xiǎng xiàng rèn hé yán sè。
When drawing, you can freely imagine any color.
我闭上眼睛，想象自己躺在柔软的云朵上。
wǒ bì shàng yǎn jīng， xiǎng xiàng zì jǐ tǎng zài róu ruǎn de yún duǒ shàng。
I close my eyes and imagine myself lying on soft clouds.
想象一下，如果世界是糖果做的，那该多有趣！
xiǎng xiàng yí xià， rú guǒ shì jiè shì táng guǒ zuò de， nà gāi duō yǒu qù！
Imagine if the world were made of candy, how fun that would be!
5 mini stories
小明喜欢想象自己是一个宇航员。他想象自己飞到了月球上。
xiǎo míng xǐ huān xiǎng xiàng zì jǐ shì yí gè yǔ háng yuán。 tā xiǎng xiàng zì jǐ fēi dào le yuè qiú shàng。
Xiao Ming likes to imagine himself as an astronaut. He imagines himself flying to the moon.
小红在画画时，想象自己画了一只彩虹色的猫。她想象猫在天空中跳舞。
xiǎo hóng zài huà huà shí， xiǎng xiàng zì jǐ huà le yì zhī cǎi hóng sè de māo。 tā xiǎng xiàng māo zài tiān kōng zhōng tiào wǔ。
When drawing, Xiao Hong imagines she painted a rainbow-colored cat. She imagines the cat dancing in the sky.
老师让我们想象未来的学校是什么样子。我想象学校有一个巨大的滑梯。
lǎo shī ràng wǒ men xiǎng xiàng wèi lái de xué xiào shì shén me yàng zi。 wǒ xiǎng xiàng xué xiào yǒu yí gè jù dà de huá tī。
The teacher asked us to imagine what the future school looks like. I imagine the school has a giant slide.
弟弟想象自己是一条小鱼，在水里游来游去。他想象自己找到了一个宝藏。
dì di xiǎng xiàng zì jǐ shì yì tiáo xiǎo yú， zài shuǐ lǐ yóu lái yóu qù。 tā xiǎng xiàng zì jǐ zhǎo dào le yí gè bǎo zàng。
Little brother imagines himself as a small fish, swimming around in the water. He imagines he found a treasure.
在睡前，我常常想象自己在一个魔法森林里。我想象森林里有会说话的花朵。
zài shuì qián， wǒ cháng cháng xiǎng xiàng zì jǐ zài yí gè mó fǎ sēn lín lǐ。 wǒ xiǎng xiàng sēn lín lǐ yǒu huì shuō huà de huā duǒ。
Before sleep, I often imagine myself in a magical forest. I imagine the forest has talking flowers.