Meaning

Primary

Ideology

Alternatives

Thought, Idea

Word Type

noun

Explanation

You’re doing some deep thinking about a concept, producing something larger, like an ideology. It’s a group of, or single larger, thoughts or ideas.

思想 refers to the big ideas or beliefs an individual holds about the world and life. It’s often used to talk about one’s thoughts about philosophy, politics, religion, or other such beliefs.

Reading

しそう
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. You haven't learned the on'yomi for yet, so here's a mnemonic to help you:

All your thoughts and ideas are about sheep () right now. You just can't stop thinking about sheep. Are you thinking about sheep right now? What kind of sheep are they?

Context

Patterns of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 思想を伝える

    to convey one's ideas, to convey one's thoughts

    思想を持つ

    to have an ideology, to have thoughts

    思想を学ぶ

    to learn an ideology, to learn a concept

Context Sentences

コウイチの思想にはついていけません。

I can't follow Koichi's thoughts.

きのう、ニュースを見ていたら、ビエトが思想犯としてたいほされたニュースが出て本当にびっくりしたよ。

When I was watching the news yesterday, I was so shocked that it said Viet was arrested for thoughtcrimes.

コウイチはトーフグの創始者であり、近代日本を代表する啓蒙思想家である。

Koichi is the founder of Tofugu and one of the great modern Japanese thinkers.

Kanji Composition