What comes to mind vs what occurs to you

hirashin · 20 Dec 2015

Dear native English speakers,

Which would be acceptable? Do they have almost the same meaning?
(a1) What comes to mind when you see this picture?
(a2) What comes to your mind when you see this picture?
(b1) What occurs to you when you see this picture?
(b2) What occurs to your mind when you see this picture?
(c1) What do you imagine when you see this picture?
(c2) What do you come up with when you see this picture?
(c3) What do you think when you see this picture?
(c4) What do you think of when you see this picture?
(d1) What comes to mind to see this picture?
(d2) What comes to mind seeing this picture?

Thanks in advance.

Hirashin

Majestic · 21 Dec 2015

Hello Hirashin,

A1 = Completely acceptable.
A2 = Completely acceptable.
B1 = Understandable, but I don't think "occurs" fits here as well as "come to mind".
B2 = As above. Understandable, but not as elegant as just "come to mind". Somewhat redundant.
C1 = Understandable, but to me not as good of a choice as A1.
C2 = Not really the correct use of the phrase "come up with", and I think invalid in this situation.
C3 = Needs the addition of the word of.
C4 = Fine.
D1 = Comes to mind to - would be an unusual and, I think, invalid way to use that phrase.
D2 = Acceptable, but I think not nearly as good as A1, A2, or C4.

hirashin · 21 Dec 2015

Thank you for your great help, Majestic. I really appreciate it.
How would D2 be different from A1, A2, or C4?
Hirashin

Majestic · 21 Dec 2015

"Looking at a picture" feels more idiomatic than "seeing a picture". To look at a picture implies you are looking at the image in the photograph. To see a picture feels like the action is broadened, and now includes, for example, seeing the photograph on the table.
So, while D2 is OK, I think the others are more clear and succinct and idiomatic.

ssslider · 21 Dec 2015

Yes:
(a1) What comes to mind when you see this picture?
(c1) What do you imagine when you see this picture?
(a2) What comes to your mind when you see this picture?
(c3) What do you think when you see this picture?
(c4) What do you think of when you see this picture?

微妙：
(d2) What comes to mind seeing this picture?
(c2) What do you come up with when you see this picture?

No:
(b1) What occurs to you when you see this picture?
(b2) What occurs to your mind when you see this picture?
(d1) What comes to mind to see this picture?

hirashin · 22 Dec 2015

Thanks for your help, Majestic and ssslider.

Ssslider, your views are a little different from Majestic's.

Would it be all right to say (c2)?

Hirashin

ssslider · 22 Dec 2015

I think c2 might be ok, in the right context. I don't consider it wrong, like b2 or d1. In my view, it's just not as common as the others I listed above it.

hirashin · 22 Dec 2015

Thanks for the further help, ssslider.

ssslider said:
(c3) What do you think when you see this picture?
(c4) What do you think of when you see this picture?

You consider both (c3) and (c4) correct. If so, what's the difference between (c3) and (c4)?
Do you think (c5) and (c6) are correct, too?
(c5) What do you think when you look at this picture?
(c6) What do you think of when you look at this picture?

Hirashin

ssslider · 24 Dec 2015

If asked c3, I might answer with how the picture makes me feel, or maybe my opinion about whether it's a good picture or not, or maybe an experience it reminds me of, etc etc. It seems like an open question.

If asked c4, I would probably say what I associate with the picture. It might be a personal experience or it might be just something that I think is related to the pic.

yes, c5 and c6 are correct.

What comes to mind vs what occurs to you

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