How to say "imagination" in Japanese

• 想像そうぞうJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe default word for 'imagination': forming a mental picture of something not present or not real, or guessing what something may be like. Use it for both the faculty and the act of imagining.
  あなたには想像そうぞうもつかない、でしょ？↗

  You can't imagine it, can you?
• 仮想かそうCommon
  suru verb, transitive verb, no-adjectiveSeldom the word for plain 'imagination': it really means 'virtual' or 'hypothetical', as with a potential enemy, and is not how you speak of imagining freely in the mind.
  小中学生しょうちゅうがくせいなんて、まだまだ善悪ぜんあくの見分みわけも、現実げんじつと仮想かそうの見分みわけもつかない。↗

  Elementary and primary school children don't yet know good from evil or reality from fiction.
• イマジネーションCommon
  nounThe loanword borrowed directly from English 'imagination'. Use it when the English term itself is wanted; in ordinary sentences 想像 is the natural choice.
• 思いおもいCommon
  nounReally 'thought' or 'feeling': what one holds in one's mind or heart, such as a wish or sentiment. Its 'imagination' sense is marginal, so it is seldom the word you want for imagining.
• 考えかんがえJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounReally 'idea', 'notion' or 'opinion' — the content of thinking rather than the power to imagine. Its 'imagination' sense is marginal; use it for what someone thinks or believes.

Choose 想像 for the ordinary sense of picturing something in the mind; 「イマジネーション」 when the English loanword itself is wanted; 仮想 really means 'virtual' or 'hypothetical', while 「思い」 and 「考え」 are really 'feeling' and 'idea'.

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

• 想像そうぞうimagination
• 仮想かそうimagination
• イマジネーションimagination
• 想像力そうぞうりょく(power of) imagination
• 空想力くうそうりょく(power of) imagination
• 思いおもいimagination
• 考えかんがえidea
• ファンシーfancy