How to say "idea" in Japanese

• 案あんJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)An idea in the form of a plan or proposal — something you put forward, as when offering a suggestion about how to handle a matter.
  驚おどろいたことに、彼かれは簡単かんたんに案あんを考え出かんがえだした。↗

  To my surprise, he easily came up with a plan.
• アイデアJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe loanword for the plain, all-purpose sense of 'idea' — a notion that comes to mind or a bit of inspiration, as when you call something 'a good idea'.
  アイディアが足たりないということはない。↗

  There is no shortage of ideas.
• 発想はっそうJLPT N2approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbAn idea as a conception — the notion one conceives in the mind, or the way of conceiving it; typical in talk of fresh or original ideas in creative work.
  その人ひと達たちは大胆だいたんな発想はっそうをすべきだ。↗

  They should have bold ideas.
• 念ねんJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounSeldom the word you want for 'idea': it really denotes a thought, sense or feeling held in the mind, as in a sense of gratitude or unease.
  その光景こうけいを見みて私は驚異きょういの念ねんにうたれた。↗

  The sight struck me with wonder.
• 思想しそうJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounIdea in the intellectual sense — thought as a body of doctrine or ideology, philosophical or political; not the word for a single notion that occurs to you.
  我々われわれは言葉ことばによって思想しそうを表現ひょうげんする。↗

  We express thought with language.

Use 「アイデア」 for ideas generally, 案 for an idea as a plan or proposal, 発想 for a conception, 思想 for ideas as thought or ideology; 念 is seldom the right choice, meaning a sense or feeling held in mind.

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

• 案あんidea
• アイデアidea
• 発想はっそうidea
• 念ねんsense
• 思想しそうthought
• 観念かんねんidea
• 思いつきおもいつきidea
• 構想こうそうplan
• 理念りねん(Platonic) ideal (of how things ought to be, e.g. human rights)
• 考案こうあんplan
• 心当たりこころあたりhaving in mind
• 趣向しゅこうplan
• 想そうconception
• 一案いちあんidea
• 一策いっさくidea
• 着想ちゃくそうconception
• 意向いこうintention
• 発案はつあんsuggestion
• イデアidea (in Platonic thought)
• 想念そうねんthought
• 了見りょうけんidea
• 発意はついidea
• 作意さくいidea
• イデーidea
• 着意ちゃくいcaution
• 存念ぞんねんopinion
• パンセthought
• 落想らくそうcoming up with an idea
• 構思こうしplan
• 考えかんがえidea
• 工夫くふうdevice
• 意匠いしょうidea
• 表象ひょうしょう(mental) image
• エイドスidea (in Platonism)
• ファンシーfancy
• 愚案ぐあん(one's own) idea
• いいこと(good) idea
• 愚考ぐこう(one's own) thought