Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 考え | kangae | [kã̠ŋɡa̠e̞] (narrow) |
| 意見 | iken | [ikẽ̞ɴ] (narrow) |
| 考慮 | kōryo | [ko̞ːɾʲo̞] (narrow) |
| 思考 | shikō | [ɕi̥ko̞ː] (narrow) |
| 思索 | shisaku | [ɕisa̠kɯ̟] (narrow) |
The term 'thought' is translated using different words based on whether you mean an idea, an opinion, a cognitive process or a deep meditation. To express your own personal thoughts or opinions at the end of a sentence, you can add と思う. If you are emphasizing the act of organizing your thoughts, you can use the verb 整理する to mean 'to sort out'.
Which one should you use?
考え is the most common, general term for a thought or an idea. 意見 is used specifically when the 'thought' is an opinion or a viewpoint expressed to others. 思考 refers to the cognitive process of thinking or the faculty of thought rather than a single specific idea. 考慮 is used when a thought involves weighing factors or taking something into account. Finally, 思索 refers to deep, philosophical or meditative thought.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun 考え is the stem form of the verb 考える (to think).
How do you pronounce it?
kangae
Did you know?
- In Japanese business culture, the phrase 検討します (I will consider it) is often used as a polite way to signal a 'no' without saying it directly.
- The word 意見 for 'opinion' uses a character that literally means 'to separate' or 'to diverge', reflecting the idea that an opinion is a diverging path of thought.
- To say you are 'sorting out' your thoughts, you use the verb 整理する, which literally means 'to organize' or 'to tidy up', as if your thoughts were a messy room.
Examples in context
- 考えておくよ。I'll give it some thought.This sentence is useful for saying you will give something thought.Tatoeba #173469 by small_snow, translation #33023 by CK
- それはいい考えね。That's a nice thought.This sentence is useful for describing a nice thought.Tatoeba #10677428 by small_snow, translation #3728255 by CM
- 自分で考えたのかな？I wonder if he thought of that by himself?This sentence is useful for wondering if someone thought of something by themselves.Tatoeba #9738329 by small_snow, translation #10207926 by terrywallwork
- 私は思考のプロセスをより深めるため、多くの時間を考えることに費やしています。I dedicate a lot of time to thinking in order to deepen my thought process.
- 彼の考えに賛成します。I agree with his thought/idea.
- 昨夜、彼と話していて面白いことを考えました。Last night, while talking with him, I thought of something interesting.
- 思ったことを整理してから話しましょうLet's organize our thoughts before speaking.
- この映画はおもしろいと思いますI think this movie is interesting.
- 97 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Ren are discussing a new project idea.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮さんの考えを聞かせてください。Ren-san no kangae o kikasete kudasai.Please let me hear your thoughts, Ren.
- 蓮 Renいい考えがあると思うよ。Ii kangae ga aru to omou yo.I think I have a good idea.
- 美咲 Misakiそれは面白い考えですね。Sore wa omoshiroi kangae desu ne.That is an interesting thought.
- 蓮 Ren一緒に考えをまとめましょう。Issho ni kangae o matomemashou.Let's organize our thoughts together.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “thought” translations and entries 考え, 意見, 考慮, 思考, 思索, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
