imagine

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 本词

  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

  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。

Compared meaning: to think or guess something is true (verb).

比较义项：认为，猜想（动词）。

• think

  The most neutral and common way to state a belief or opinion, with no strong sense of guessing; used in almost any context, formal or casual.

  最中性、最常用的表达信念或看法的方式，没有明显的“猜测”意味，几乎适用于任何正式或非正式场合。

  I think Monday works best for the meeting, but let's double check.

  我认为周一开会最合适，不过我们还是再确认一下吧。

• guess

  Suggests forming an idea with little or no evidence, often a rough estimate; common in casual speech, especially American English.

  表示在证据很少甚至没有证据的情况下形成的想法，往往是粗略的估计；常用于非正式口语，尤其是美式英语。

  I guess it's around three o'clock, since I don't have my phone.

  我猜大概是三点钟吧，因为我没带手机。

• imagine 本词

  Implies picturing or inferring something based on reasoning or general knowledge, often about future or hypothetical situations; slightly more thoughtful in tone.

  暗示是基于推理或常识去构想、推断出某种看法，常用于对未来或假设情形的推测，语气略显经过思考。

  I imagine ticket prices will rise again before the holidays.

  我料想假期前票价还会再涨。

• suppose

  Implies a reasoned assumption, often with a mild, sometimes reluctant tone; common in British English, as in 'I suppose so'.

  暗示一种经过推理得出的假设，常带有一丝无奈或让步的语气；常见于英式英语，如“I suppose so”。

  I suppose the shop is closed already, since it's after nine.

  我猜想这家店应该已经关门了，因为都过九点了。

All four mean to believe something without being certain. Think is neutral and common. Guess means an idea with little evidence. Imagine means a view from reasoning, often about the future. Suppose means a reasoned assumption. Excludes: think 'reflect', guess 'guess right', imagine 'picture, fantasize'.

这几个词在“认为、猜想”这一义项上意思相近，但确定程度和语气不同：think最中性、最常用；guess强调凭很少证据做出的推测；imagine强调基于推理或想象得出的看法；suppose则常带有一丝无奈或让步的语气。这里不比较think的“思考、思索”义、guess的“猜对、猜中”义，以及imagine的“想象出画面、幻想”义。