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Expressing 'to recall' with 想起 (xiǎngqǐ)
Actions & Events
Aspect & Tense
Structure
Subject + 想起 + Object
Explanation
想起 (xiǎngqǐ) means to recall or remember something that comes to mind, often suddenly. The directional complement 起 adds a sense of the memory rising up into consciousness, distinguishing it from deliberate memorization.
Examples
我突然想起小时候在老家玩的日子。
Wǒ tūrán xiǎngqǐ xiǎoshíhòu zài lǎojiā wán de rìzi.
I suddenly recalled the days of playing in my hometown as a child.
你一说这首歌，我就想起他来了。
Nǐ yī shuō zhè shǒu gē, wǒ jiù xiǎngqǐ tā lái le.
As soon as you mentioned this song, I thought of him.
她怎么也想不起那个人的名字。
Tā zěnme yě xiǎng bù qǐ nàge rén de míngzì.
She couldn't recall that person's name no matter what.