想像|そうぞうsouzou[0]heiban (flat)

1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbimagination; supposition; guess
   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?

• Synonym思い描くおもいえがくNeutralTo picture a scene or the future in your mind, as in 「将来を思い描く」. Used for concrete images, whether hopeful or anxious.
• Synonym仮想かそうNeutralHypothetical or virtual; something set up for the sake of argument, as in 「仮想空間」 or 「仮想敵」. Common in technical and military contexts.
• Synonym空想くうそうNeutralFantasy or daydreaming detached from reality, as in 「空想にふける」. Suggests something more unrealistic than 「想像」.
• Synonym幻想げんそうNeutralTaking something nonexistent to be real, as in 「幻想を抱く」. Often carries the nuance of being out of touch with reality.
• SynonymイメージNeutralLoanword for the image or impression in your mind, as in 「イメージが湧く」. Also used as a verb for imagining; very common in speech.
• Synonym予想よそうNeutralTo anticipate beforehand, as in 「予想が当たる」. Centered on predicting an outcome.
• Related想定そうていNeutralTo assume a situation in advance so you can prepare for it, as in 「最悪の事態を想定する」. Has a practical, businesslike flavor.
• Related推し量るおしはかるNeutralTo infer someone's feelings and the like from clues, as in 「気持ちを推し量る」. It is inference, not imagining out of thin air.
• Related憶測おくそくNeutralSpeculation based on uncertain grounds, as in 「憶測で物を言う」. Often carries a negative nuance.
• Related推測すいそくNeutralTo guess from what is known, as in 「原因を推測する」. Centered on reasoning, while 「想像」 can be entirely free of factual basis.
• Related決め込むきめこむNeutralColloquial: to arbitrarily assume something, or to deliberately pose as, as in 「知らん顔を決め込む」. Only the arbitrary-assumption sense touches on 「想像」.
• Related推量すいりょうWrittenConjecture; in grammar it also refers to conjectural expressions. Leans written and formal.
• RelatedみなすNeutralTo regard or treat something as, as in 「欠席と見なす」. It is making a judgment, not imagining.
• Related予測よそくNeutralTo work out unknown results from data or clues, mostly about the future, as in 「天気の予測」. 「想像」 is about picturing things in your head.
• Related推定すいていNeutralTo conclude from circumstances that something is fact, as in 「推定年齢」. Leans legal and scientific usage.
• Related仮定かていNeutralTo assume for the sake of argument, as in 「仮定の話」. Centered on an assumption used as a premise.
• Related憶断おくだんWrittenA written-style word for judging by conjecture. Rare in modern usage.
• Related当て推量あてずいりょうNeutralGuessing on unreliable grounds; colloquial and often negative. 「当てずっぽう」 is closer to a pure shot in the dark.
• Related揣摩臆測しまおくそくWrittenA four-character idiom for wild, baseless speculation. Written style, used to criticize unfounded guessing.
• Related思いなすおもいなすWrittenA written-style verb for taking something to be the case, being convinced of it. Rare in modern usage.
• Related推知すいちWrittenA written-style word for coming to know something by inference. Rare in modern usage.
• Related当てずっぽうあてずっぽうCasualColloquial for a wild guess, as in 「当てずっぽうに答える」.
• Related想察そうさつWrittenA written-style word for surmising another person's feelings or situation. Rare today; in daily speech say 「察する」.
• Related揣摩しまWrittenA written-style word for conjecture. Today it is seen almost only in 「揣摩臆測」.
• Related計り知るはかりしるWrittenA written-style verb for fathoming or grasping; mostly in the negative 「計り知れない」, meaning immeasurable.
• Antonym現実げんじつNeutralReality — the facts as they actually exist; the opposite of 「想像」, which happens in the mind.
• Antonym実在じつざいNeutralActual existence; the opposite of things existing only in imagination, as in 「実在の人物」.

Use 「想像」 for picturing in your mind things you have never seen. When it is detached from reality, say 「空想」 or 「幻想」; when reasoning from evidence, 「推測」; when anticipating results, 「予想」 or 「予測」; when assuming, 「仮定」. The opposite is 「現実」.

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

1. 実際じっさいに見みたことのないもの等とうについて、頭あたまの中なかで色々いろいろ考かんがえたりすること。