Definition
意象 (yì xiàng) is a key term in Chinese literary and art criticism, referring to a mental or artistic image that carries symbolic meaning. It combines 意 (idea, intention) and 象 (form, appearance), describing how a concrete image embodies an abstract concept. In poetry, an 意象 is a vivid, often traditional image (e.g., 月亮 for longing) that evokes deeper emotion. It can also be used in psychology and everyday language to mean 'concept' or 'idea'.
noun
artistic imageimagery (used in literature and art to convey meaning or emotion)conceptidea (in a broader, cognitive sense)
Examples
- 意象。Zhè shǒu shī lǐ de yuèliang yì xiàng jìtuō le shīrén duì gùxiāng de sīniàn.The moon image in this poem embodies the poet's longing for his hometown.
- 意象。Xīnlǐ xuéjiā bǎ zhè zhǒng jìyì chēng wéi yì zhǒng xīnlǐ yì xiàng.Psychologists call this kind of memory a mental image.
- 意象。Tā tíchū de zhège yì xiàng hěn kuài chéngwéi gōngsī de xīn lǐniàn.The concept he proposed quickly became the company's new philosophy.
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