我想
wǒ xiǎng
The English phrase "I guess" is translated into Chinese as 我想 (wǒ xiǎng).
我想 is used to express a tentative opinion or a belief that is not entirely certain.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of 我, which means "I" or "me".
Which one should you use?
While 我想 can mean "I guess" (expressing a tentative opinion), it is also the standard way to say "I want" in many contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
When used in the sense of "I guess", 我想 is typically placed at the beginning of a clause to introduce the thought or speculation.
How do you pronounce it?
wǒ xiǎng
Did you know?
- The character in 想 is composed of a radical for 'heart' at the bottom, implying that 'guessing' or 'thinking' is an activity rooted in the heart or mind.
- In high-context Chinese culture, saying 我想 can sometimes be a polite way to disagree with someone without contradicting them directly.
- When Chinese speakers want to say 'I guess' in the sense of 'I suppose so' as a reluctant agreement, they often use 应该是吧 (yīnggāi shì ba) instead of 我想.
Examples in context
- 我想她想要的是束縛與支配。I guess she's into bondage and domination.This sentence shows how to use 我想 to express a guess about someone's desires.Tatoeba #5948457 by xjjAstrus, translation #327958 by jakov
- 我想你听说今天早上发生什么了。I guess you heard about what happened this morning.This sentence illustrates using 我想 to introduce a speculation about what someone has heard.Tatoeba #9953315 by GlossaMatik, translation #2330124 by CK
- 我想這取決於天氣。I guess it depends on the weather.This sentence demonstrates using 我想 to express a tentative opinion about a situation.Tatoeba #801927 by Martha, translation #278891 by CK
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing where to eat dinner.
- 浩然 Haoran你觉得这家餐厅好吃吗？Nǐ juéde zhè jiā cāntīng hǎochī ma?Do you think this restaurant is good?
- 雨婷 Yuting我想应该还不错。Wǒ xiǎng yīnggāi hái bùcuò.I guess it should be pretty good.
- 浩然 Haoran那我们现在进去吧。Nà wǒmen xiànzài jìnqù ba.Then let's go in now.
- 雨婷 Yuting好，雨婷听你的。Hǎo, Yǔtíng tīng nǐ de.Okay, Yuting will follow your lead.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
