How to say "conception" in Japanese

• 発想はっそうJLPT N2approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers 'conception' in the sense of an idea or a way of thinking something up, stressing how the thought is formed. It is the natural word when discussing ideas and how original or creative they are.
  その人ひと達たちは大胆だいたんな発想はっそうをすべきだ。↗

  They should have bold ideas.
• 想そうCommon
  nounAn abstract, literary word for a thought or conception. On its own it is seldom the word you want for 'conception'; the idea sense is better served by 発想 or 着想.
  この企画きかくはもう一いち度ど想そうを練り直ねりなおせ。↗

  You should rethink this program.
• 妊娠にんしんJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe everyday word for pregnancy, covering 'conception' only in the biological sense of becoming pregnant. For the precise moment of fertilization, 受胎 is the more exact term.
  妊娠にんしん検査けんさを受うけたいのです。↗

  I'd like to get a pregnancy test.
• 着想ちゃくそうCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbCovers 'conception' as the coming of an idea to mind: a flash of inspiration. Use it when the point is that an idea strikes someone, rather than the idea as a way of thinking.
  ずば抜ぬけた着想ちゃくそうというのは、往々おうおうにして天啓てんけいのごとくヒラメクようだ。↗

  Sometimes the most inspired ideas seem to just come from out of the blue.
• 受胎じゅたいCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe technical word for conception in the biological sense: the fertilization that starts a pregnancy. It names the event itself, not the state of being pregnant.

For 'conception' as an idea, use 発想 for a way of thinking or 着想 for a flash of inspiration; for the biological sense choose 受胎 (fertilization) or 妊娠 (pregnancy); 想 is a literary abstraction.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 発想はっそうidea
• 想そうconception
• 妊娠にんしんpregnancy
• 着想ちゃくそうconception
• 受胎じゅたいconception
• 懐妊かいにんpregnancy
• 構想こうそうplan
• 理念りねん(Platonic) ideal (of how things ought to be, e.g. human rights)
• 観念かんねんidea
• 考案こうあんplan
• 想念そうねんthought
• コンセプションconception
• 懐胎かいたいconception
• 孕みはらみconception
• 着意ちゃくいcaution
• 妊孕にんようpregnancy
• 孕ませはらませimpregnation
• 作意さくいidea
• 構思こうしplan
• 意匠いしょうidea