How to say "believe" in Japanese

• 思うおもうJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers 'believe' as opinion or supposition — 'I believe he's right' — a thought rather than an act of faith; for believing in or trusting someone, use 信じる.
  晴はれだと思おもうよ。↗

  I think it will be sunny.
• 信ずるしんずるJLPT N2approx.Common
  ichidan verb (-zuru), transitive verbAn alternate form of 信じる with the same senses: believing that something is true, believing in a person, creed, or ideal, and placing trust in or confiding in someone; either verb works.
  見みることは信しんずることなり。↗

  Seeing is believing.
• 信じるしんじるJLPT N3approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbThe verb for belief proper: accepting that something is true ('I believe his story') and believing in or trusting a person, god, or ideal — choose it over 思う when conviction, not opinion, is meant.
  きっと彼かれはあなたを信しんじると思おもいますよ。↗

  I am sure of his trusting you.
• 存じるぞんじるJLPT N2approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbThe humble (kenjougo) counterpart of 思う: say it for your own 'I believe/I think' when addressing a superior or customer; it never covers believing in or trusting someone.
  ご援助えんじょできないのが残念ざんねんに存ぞんじます。↗

  I regret that I can't help you.

For 'believe' as an opinion or supposition use 「思う」, or 「存じる」 when speaking humbly; for believing that something is true, or believing in and trusting someone, use 「信じる」 or its alternate form 「信ずる」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 思うおもうto think
• 信ずるしんずるto believe
• 信じるしんじるto believe
• 真に受けるまにうけるto take seriously
• 考えるかんがえるto think (that)
• 存じるぞんじるto think
• 存ずるぞんずるto think
• 存じ上げるぞんじあげるto think