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Japanese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "imagine" in Japanese?
想像する
souzou suru
In Japanese, "imagine" is 想像する (souzou suru).
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Pronunciation
Sou-zou-su-ru, four syllables, the doubled long vowels 'sou' and 'zou' both stretch out, giving a dreamy, floating feel.
Writing and usage
想像する is written using kanji. It's a verb, and this word is also taught inside the Noun Town language learning game, where it appears in interactive lessons alongside hundreds of other everyday words.
Example sentence
国境のない世界を想像してください。
kokkyou nonai sekai wo souzou shitekudasai.
Imagine a world without borders.
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How to remember 想像する
Souzou sounds like 'so, zoo' — imagine a whole zoo appearing out of nowhere.
Related words
- whistle 口笛を吹く kuchibue wo fuku
- yawn あくびをする akubiwosuru
- hiccup しゃっくりする shakkurisuru
- blink まばたきをする mabatakiwosuru
- stretch 伸びをする nobi wosuru
- bend 曲げる mage ru
- kneel ひざまずく hizamazuku
- squat しゃがむ shagamu
- compare 比較する hikaku suru
Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.
Questions about 想像する
How do you pronounce 想像する?
Sou-zou-su-ru, four syllables, the doubled long vowels 'sou' and 'zou' both stretch out, giving a dreamy, floating feel.
Is 想像する formal or casual?
想像する is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.
How is 想像する written in Japanese?
想像する is written using kanji. Romanised, it reads as souzou suru.
Where can I practice Japanese words for free?
You can play free Japanese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, with no sign-up needed. Every word in the Japanese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.
"Imagine" in other languages
Curated by Jack Ratcliffe
This word is part of the vocabulary taught in the Japanese language learning game Noun Town, where words are introduced through play rather than memorisation. Want to play the full game? Get Noun Town on Steam.
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