Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of mutual and heart. Heart imagining mutual.
Symbolism
Imagination, thought, recollection. Represents thinking.
Spiritual Meaning
One of Buddhism's Five Aggregates. Mental images and concepts that arise in the mind; attachment to them is said to cause suffering.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Pondering thoughts
Component Breakdown
top-bottom: 相 + heart
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
奇想天外
きそうてんがい
fantastic; bizarre; incredible
誇大妄想
こだいもうそう
megalomania; delusions of grandeur
被害妄想
ひがいもうそう
persecution complex; paranoia
末法思想
まっぽうしそう
pessimism due to decadent-age theory
無念無想
むねんむそう
free from worldly or worthless thoughts
熟思黙想
じゅくしもくそう
considering (a matter) carefully and silently; being lost in silent contemplation
無想無念
むそうむねん
being free from all distracting thoughts; keeping one's mind clear of all worldly thoughts; being free from all ideas and thoughts
Proverbs & Idioms
想像に難くない
そうぞうにかたくない
Easy to imagine
Not difficult to picture
Anime & Manga
灰と幻想のグリムガル
Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash
A well-known work with 想 in its Japanese title.
精霊幻想記
Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles
A well-known work with 想 in its Japanese title.
デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲
Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody
A well-known work with 想 in its Japanese title.
妄想代理人
Paranoia Agent
A well-known work with 想 in its Japanese title.
精霊幻想記2
Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles Season 2
A well-known work with 想 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
夢想権之助
Name contains 想
Musō Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi was a samurai of the early 17th century and the traditional founder of the Koryu school of jojutsu known as Shintō Musō-ryū…
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 想 mean in Japanese?
想 means idea, thought, conception, think.
How do you read 想?
On'yomi: ソウ、ソ (SOU, SO). Kun'yomi: おも.う (omou).
How many strokes does 想 have?
想 has 13 strokes. Its radical is 心 (heart).
Is 想 a good kanji for a tattoo?
想 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means idea, thought, conception, think. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.