Chinese Verb "想" (xiǎng)

to think / to want / to miss

Mental verb

Basic Usage

Think

Subject + 想 + content

我想你说得对。

Wǒ xiǎng nǐ shuō de duì.

I think what you said is right.

Want to

Subject + 想 + verb

我想去旅行。

Wǒ xiǎng qù lǚxíng.

I want to travel.

Miss

Subject + 想 + person

我很想你。

Wǒ hěn xiǎng nǐ.

I miss you very much.

Completed Action (了 (le))

Completed with 了

Subject + 想 + 了 + duration

我想了很久。

Wǒ xiǎng le hěn jiǔ.

I thought about it for a long time.

Experience (过 (guò))

Experience with 过

Subject + 想 + 过 + content

我想过这个问题。

Wǒ xiǎng guò zhège wèntí.

I have thought about this question.

Ongoing Action (在/着)

In progress

Subject + 在 + 想

我在想一个办法。

Wǒ zài xiǎng yí gè bànfǎ.

I am thinking of a solution.

Future / Intent (会/要/想)

Future with 会

Subject + 会 + 想 + person

你会想家的。

Nǐ huì xiǎng jiā de.

You will miss home.

Negation (不/没)

Don't want to

Subject + 不想 + verb

我不想走。

Wǒ bù xiǎng zǒu.

I don't want to leave.

Common Compounds & Related Words

Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning
想到	xiǎngdào	to think of / to occur to
想象	xiǎngxiàng	to imagine
思想	sīxiǎng	thought / ideology
想念	xiǎngniàn	to miss (someone)

Example Sentences

你在想什么？

Nǐ zài xiǎng shénme?

What are you thinking about?

我想不到好办法。

Wǒ xiǎng bù dào hǎo bànfǎ.

I can't think of a good solution.

别想太多。

Bié xiǎng tài duō.

Don't overthink it.