How to say "remember" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 思い出すおもいだすgodan verb, transitive verbThe verb for recalling something from memory — a name, a face, an event — with the nuance of a memory coming back to you, often after slipping your mind.
- 思い浮かべるおもいうかべるichidan verb, transitive verbCovers 'remember' in the sense of calling something to mind: picturing a face, a scene, or an image in your head rather than retrieving a forgotten fact.
- 思い起こすおもいおこすgodan verb, transitive verbAlso means to recall or remember, bringing a past event or memory back to mind. Close in meaning to 思い出す, with more of a sense of deliberately calling something to mind.
- godan verb, transitive verbFor 'remember' with a nostalgic tinge: fondly recalling people or times now gone, as when reminiscing about the old days or remembering someone who has died. Seldom the word for simply recalling facts.
- 覚えるおぼえるichidan verb, transitive verbIts territory is getting something into memory in the first place — memorizing facts, learning by heart — rather than recalling it; for the recalling sense of 'remember', 思い出す is the closer match.
For recalling something from memory use 「思い出す」; for calling an image to mind 「思い浮かべる」; for deliberately bringing the past to mind 「思い起こす」; for remembering with nostalgia 「しのぶ」; for memorizing, 「覚える」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 思い出すおもいだすto recall
- 思い浮かべるおもいうかべるto remember
- 思い起こすおもいおこすto recall
- しのぶto recollect
- 覚えるおぼえるto memorize
- 銘記めいきkeep in mind
- 見覚えるみおぼえるto remember
- 記憶にとどめるきおくにとどめるto remember
- 目に浮かぶめにうかぶto picture
- 見覚えがあるみおぼえがあるto recognize
- 思いつくおもいつくto remember
- 記するきするto remember
- いいかyou see
- 知るしるto remember
- 思うおもうto recall
- 記すしるすto remember
- 止めるとめるto notice
See also
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