How to say "concept" in Japanese

• コンセプトCommon
  nounCovers 'concept' as the guiding idea or theme behind a design, product, event, or plan; a katakana loanword at home in such planning and creative contexts.
  エメットのコンセプトをもっともよく表現ひょうげんしているデザインに特とくに焦点しょうてんを当あてたい。↗

  I would like to focus attention on the particular design that best represents Emmet's concept.
• 概念がいねんJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe usual word for 'concept' as an abstract general idea or notion, typical of academic, philosophical, and technical discussion; when you mean the idea itself in the abstract, this is the default choice.
  彼かれの福祉ふくしの概念がいねんはかなり観念的かんねんてきだ。↗

  His notion of welfare is pretty abstract.
• 観念かんねんJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounAn idea or conception held in the mind, often with a philosophical or psychological coloring; as a rendering of 'concept' it is narrower than 概念, so use it only for that mental sense.
  幸福こうふくの観念かんねんはきわめて抽象的ちゅうしょうてきだ。↗

  The idea of happiness is extremely abstract.
• 考えかんがえJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounReally means a person's thinking, view, or opinion — what someone thinks. It is seldom the word you want for 'concept' as a general idea; use it for someone's thoughts or views on something.
  あなたの考かんがえを言いってください。↗

  Please tell me what you think.

Use 概念 for an abstract general idea or notion, 「コンセプト」 for the guiding idea behind a design or plan, 観念 for an idea or conception held in the mind, and 「考え」 only for a person's thought, view, or opinion.

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

• コンセプトconcept
• 概念がいねんgeneral idea
• 観念かんねんidea
• 考えかんがえthinking