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回想 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
回想huíxiǎngto recallHSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #4916, Very Hard
回想huíxiǎngto recollectHSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #4916, Very Hard
回想huíxiǎngto think backHSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #4916, Very Hard
huíxiǎng(hui2xiang3)hui xiang T2
  1. 1to recall
  2. 2to recollect
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March 24, 2026

回想huíxiǎng(hui2xiang3)

回想 (huíxiǎng) means to recall or think back to past events or memories. It is often used in contexts where someone reflects on their experiences or memories, expressing nostalgia or contemplation about the past.

Strokes19Frequency#4916DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, reflecting on the past is often associated with familial values and honoring ancestors, particularly during festivals such as Qingming (Tomb-Sweeping Day) when people recall their loved ones.

Memory tip

Imagine a person sitting in a quiet room, surrounded by photo albums, '回' (return) to the past and '想' (think). Picture them flipping through pages, bringing memories alive, which helps you connect the characters to the act of recalling.

Meanings of 回想

huíxiǎng(hui2xiang3)
1to recall
2to recollect
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About 回想

回想Simplified
19Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 回想

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AI study notes for 回想

Quick Contrast

回忆 (huíyì) - use 回想 when emphasizing a reflective or contemplative aspect, while 回忆 focuses more on the act of remembering itself.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 回想 with 记得 (jìdé), which means 'to remember.' While both involve memory, 回想 emphasizes reflection on past events. Be mindful of using 回想 in more formal or literary contexts rather than casual conversations.

HSK Study Tips

While 回想 is not an HSK level word, it connects well with related terms like 记忆 (jìyì, memory) and 回忆 (huíyì, recollection). Focus on the differences between these words to enhance your understanding of memory-related vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 回想 with 思考 (sīkǎo, to think deeply), using it incorrectly in contexts where deep thinking is required. For example, saying '我回想这个问题' (Wǒ huíxiǎng zhège wèntí) should be corrected to '我思考这个问题' (Wǒ sīkǎo zhège wèntí).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 回想

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Component characters

回huíto circle
HSK 16 strokes囗
View full entry
想xiǎngto think
HSK 113 strokes心
View full entry

How to say to recall in Chinese

“to recall” in Chinese is回想huíxiǎng

回想 (huíxiǎng) means to recall or think back to past events or memories. It is often used in contexts where someone reflects on their experiences or memories, expressing nostalgia or contemplation about the past.

When to use 回想

Learners often confuse 回想 with 记得 (jìdé), which means 'to remember.' While both involve memory, 回想 emphasizes reflection on past events. Be mindful of using 回想 in more formal or literary contexts rather than casual conversations.

回想 or something close to it

回忆 (huíyì) - use 回想 when emphasizing a reflective or contemplative aspect, while 回忆 focuses more on the act of remembering itself.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse 回想 with 思考 (sīkǎo, to think deeply), using it incorrectly in contexts where deep thinking is required. For example, saying '我回想这个问题' (Wǒ huíxiǎng zhège wèntí) should be corrected to '我思考这个问题' (Wǒ sīkǎo zhège wèntí).

Write 回想

回
想

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Frequently asked questions about 回想

You can say: 我经常回想我的童年。(Wǒ jīngcháng huíxiǎng wǒ de tóngnián.) - 'I often recall my childhood.'

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