🇨🇳 How to say

“think” in Chinese

想xiǎng
Illustration of "think" in a Chinese cultural setting
A young woman sits alone in a quiet cafe, staring thoughtfully at her cup of tea while pondering her future plans.

Usage note

想 can mean either 'to think' or 'to want' depending on context; it's often used for expressing desires or thoughts casually in daily conversation.

Examples

  • 我想去中国。

    I want to go to China.

  • 你在想什么？

    What are you thinking about?

  • 他想吃面条。

    He wants to eat noodles.

Quick check

What does "想" mean?

  • A. think
  • B. know
  • C. close
  • D. wait

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