How to say "ponder" in Japanese

• 考えるかんがえるJLPT N4approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbThe broad, general verb for thinking; it covers ponder in the ordinary sense of turning something over in your mind, whether briefly or at length. Typical context: pondering whether to change jobs.
  あなたは家族かぞくの事ことを考かんがえるべきです。↗

  You must think of your family.
• 考え込むかんがえこむCommon
  godan verb, intransitive verbPonder as deep, absorbed thought — thinking something over long and hard, sometimes to the point of brooding or worrying. Typical context: sitting alone, pondering a difficult decision.
  彼かれは心配しんぱい事ことを考かんがえこんで、一いち日にち中ちゅう座すわっていた。↗

  He sat brooding over his troubles all day.
• 案じるあんじるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbIt means to think out or devise a plan; it fits ponder only when the thinking aims at a solution, so for plain pondering use 考える. Typical context: pondering how to fund a project.

Use 「考える」 for ponder as ordinary thinking-over, 「考え込む」 when the pondering is long, absorbed and can shade into brooding, and 「案じる」 when ponder really means devising or working out a plan.

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

• 考えるかんがえるto think (about, of)
• 考え込むかんがえこむto ponder
• 思い入るおもいいるto ponder
• 思い回すおもいまわすto ponder
• 思い巡らすおもいめぐらすto think over
• 思いを巡らすおもいをめぐらすto contemplate
• 思いを巡らせるおもいをめぐらせるto contemplate
• 考えを巡らすかんがえをめぐらすto contemplate
• 案じるあんじるto think out (e.g. a plan)
• 凝らすこごらすto concentrate one's attention on
• 巡らすめぐらすto think over
• 案ずるあんずるto think out (e.g. a plan)