envisage
- v. 想象, 预想
- Definition
- v. to imagine or picture something as a future possibility
- Example
- I cannot envisage living anywhere else but this town.
- 我无法想象在这个镇子以外的任何地方生活。
Synonyms & Differences 近义词辨析
Compared meaning: picture something in the mind, especially the future (verb).
比较义项：想象、设想（把某事物构想为未来可能出现的情形）（动词）。
- imagine
The general, everyday word for forming a mental picture of anything, real or unreal; not restricted to the future and common in casual speech.
更常用、更口语化的词，指在脑海中想象任何事物，无论真实与否，并不限于未来的情形。
I can't imagine what life would be like without music.
我无法想象没有音乐的生活会是什么样子。
- envisage 本词
A more formal word, typical of writing and planning contexts, that specifically pictures something as a likely or possible future situation.
更正式的词，常见于书面语和规划语境，特指把某事设想为未来可能出现的情况。
She cannot envisage moving back to her hometown after so many years abroad.
在国外生活了这么多年之后，她无法设想搬回家乡。
Both mean to picture something in the mind. Imagine is everyday and general, picturing anything, not limited to the future. Envisage is more formal, typical of writing and planning, picturing something as a likely future situation. Excludes imagine meaning 'to guess or think'.
这两个词都表示在脑海中构想某种情形，但语气和正式程度不同：imagine 更口语化、适用范围广，可以想象任何事物；envisage 更正式，侧重把某事设想为未来可能发生的状况。imagine 还有“猜测，认为”的意思（如 I imagine she's already left），这里不作比较。