Interpretation of 思

By interpretation I mean either English or modern Chinese.

I usually see 思 (as one of the five or seven emotional states) interpreted in English as 'think' or 'contemplate', and in Chinese as ‘思考’. However, my reading today of a portion of 养生论 by 嵇康 indicates a different interpretation might be in order...

“何以言之？夫服药求汗，或有弗获；而愧情一集，涣然流离。终朝未餐，则萧然思食；而曾子衔哀，七日不饥。夜分而坐，则低迷思寝；内怀殷忧，则达旦不瞑。劲刷理鬓，醇醴发颜，仅乃得之；壮士之怒，赤然殊观，植发冲冠。”

In the lines “则萧然思食” and “则低迷思寝”, it seems quite obvious that the author is talking about the desire or urge to eat/sleep, rather than thinking or contemplating.

The above text dates from the 2nd C. AD, making it much later than the first use of the 5 phases, but possibly dating from around the same time as the standardization of emotions with the five phases (need to consult Unschuld) as found in Nei Jing.

On an experimental basis, I'm going to begin thinking of 思 as meaning something closer to natural urges or desires than 'thinking'.

Responsibility for any mistakes in the above is born fully by the author :)