Rensō
Discovering Japan.icon "連想" in Japanese means "association" or "connection" in English. It refers to the idea of linking one concept, idea, or thing with another in your mind. For example, when you think of Japan, you might immediately associate it with sushi, cherry blossoms, or samurai. This is a kind of 連想. It's a common word in Japanese.
nishio.icon Explain "連" and "想"
Discovering Japan.icon Certainly! The Japanese word "連想" is made up of two characters: "連" and "想". Each character has its own meaning:
連 (Ren): This character often means "to connect," "to link," or "to join together." It is used in various contexts to indicate connection or continuity, like in a chain or series.
想 (Sō): This character generally refers to "thoughts," "ideas," or "imagination." It is used in words that deal with thinking, imagining, or conceptualizing.
When combined into "連想" (Ren-Sō), the two characters collectively convey the idea of linking thoughts or ideas together. It's like how one thought leads to another in a chain of associations.
en.icon