How to say "opinion" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 意見いけんnounThe everyday word for what a person thinks and states: asking for, giving, or exchanging opinions in conversation, at meetings, or in writing. Covers 'opinion', 'view', and 'comment'.
- 見解けんかいnounA considered view or interpretation of a situation, the kind of thing officials, experts, and organizations state publicly; use it for an assessed position on an issue, not casual opinions.
- 知見ちけんnounThis is really knowledge, information, or insight gained through experience; despite the 'opinion' sense, it is seldom the word you want for 'opinion' — 意見 or 見解 fits better.
- 所存しょぞんnounA formal word for one's intentions or declared thoughts, heard in speeches and official statements; for the ordinary sense of 'opinion' it is seldom the right choice.
- nounThe loanword, with the same meaning as English 'opinion'; it appears chiefly in set phrases and media contexts, so 意見 is what you want in ordinary speech.
Use 意見 for opinions in everyday speech, 見解 for a considered, often official interpretation, 知見 for knowledge and insight rather than opinion, 所存 for formally declared intentions, and 「オピニオン」 as the loanword in set phrases.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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