# 想 — imagine; thought

想 means “imagine; thought”. It is a JLPT N3 kanji written with 13 strokes. On'yomi: ソウ (sou), ソ (so). It has no common kun'yomi. You'll see it in words such as 想 (sou, “conception; idea”).

- Meaning: imagine; thought
- On'yomi: ソウ (sou), ソ (so)
- Kun'yomi: —
- Strokes: 13
- Level: JLPT N3 · set Thinking & noticing 2

## How to remember 想

Two hearts (心) that are mutual (相): you imagine what the other thinks.

Sounds like 相: both read ソウ.

Parts: 相 mutual · 心 heart

## Words with 想

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 想 | そう (sou) | conception; idea |

## Don't confuse it with

[植](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/plant/) · [息](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/breath/)

## More in the “Thinking & noticing 2” set

[想](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/imagine/) · [念](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/keep-in-mind/) · [観](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/observe/) · [察](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/perceive/) · [識](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/discern/) · [忘](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/forget/)

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From Moji Ninja (https://moji.ninja/), a free app for learning hiragana, katakana and the JLPT kanji from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition. Page: https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/imagine/. Last updated 2026-11-01.