mental movie
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mental movie
The vivid imagining of a situation or story in one's own mind, as if a film were playing before the inner eye. The term is colloquial.
Als er von seinem Abenteuer erzählte, begann bei mir sofort das Kopfkino.
When he told me about his adventure, the mental movie started immediately for me.
The word is a figurative combination of 'der Kopf' (the head) and 'das Kino' (the cinema). It describes the idea that a film is playing in your own head, meaning a very vivid mental image.
Ihre Beschreibung war so detailliert, dass bei mir sofort das Kopfkino losging.
Her description was so detailed that the mental movie started immediately for me.
'Kopfkino' (mental movie) is a modern, colloquial word. You use it in informal conversation with friends, but generally not in formal or business texts.
Hör auf, dir Sorgen zu machen, das ist doch nur Kopfkino!
Stop worrying, that's just a mental movie in your head!
People often say that they 'Kopfkino haben' (have a mental movie) or that the Kopfkino 'beginnt' (begins) or 'losgeht' (starts). These expressions describe the onset of a vivid mental image.
Jedes Mal, wenn das Telefon nachts klingelt, habe ich sofort schlimmes Kopfkino.
Every time the phone rings at night, I immediately have terrible mental images.
idea / performance / introduction
Vorstellung and Kopfkino can both refer to an inner image of a situation. Vorstellung is the neutral, general word, while Kopfkino is colloquial and refers to a particularly vivid scene that unfolds almost like a film. Vorstellung fits factual contexts; Kopfkino can also be used for strong mental images.
Beim Gedanken an meinen ersten Arbeitstag beginnt sofort mein Kopfkino.
As soon as I think about my first day at work, a whole mental movie starts playing in my head.
Bei der Vorstellung von meinem ersten Arbeitstag bin ich noch ganz ruhig.
I am still completely calm when I imagine my first day at work.
