How to say "suggest" in Japanese

• 申し出るもうしでるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbCovers 'suggest' in the sense of putting something forward oneself — offering to do something or presenting a proposal. The image is of coming forward with an offer or plan of one's own accord.
  私は彼女かのじょにお金かねを貸かそうと申し出もうしでた。↗

  I offered to lend money to her.
• 申し入れるもうしいれるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbReally for formally lodging a proposal or request with another party, as in negotiations; for simply suggesting an idea it is seldom the word you want.
  同おなじ頃ころ、事務員じむいん・有村ありむら夏恵なつえは、今月こんげつを限かぎりに退職たいしょくする旨むねを五鬼上ごきじょうに申し入もうしいれた。↗

  At the same time, the clerk Natsue Arimura told Gokijo of her intent to resign after this month.
• ほのめかすCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers 'suggest' in the sense of hinting or intimating: conveying something indirectly rather than stating it outright, as when someone hints at dissatisfaction without saying so plainly. Usually written in kana alone.
  講演こうえん者しゃは政界せいかいの腐敗ふはいをほのめかした。↗

  The speaker hinted at corruption in the political world.
• 勧めるすすめるJLPT N3approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbCovers 'suggest' in the sense of recommending or urging something on someone: suggesting a book, recommending a person for a position, or encouraging someone to do something.
  トムは彼かれらにその小説しょうせつを薦すすめた。↗

  Tom recommended the novel to them.
• 言い出すいいだすJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers 'suggest (doing)' in the sense of being the first to say it: the person who first voices an idea or proposal for doing something.
  マネージャーは、私が彼かれと一緒いっしょに空港くうこうに行いってはどうかと言いい出だした。↗

  The manager suggested that I go with him to the airport.

Choose 「勧める」 when recommending or urging something on someone, 「ほのめかす」 for hinting at something indirectly, 「言い出す」 for being the first to propose doing something, and the two 申し- verbs for putting an offer or proposal forward.

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

• 申し出るもうしでるto offer
• 申し入れるもうしいれるto propose
• ほのめかすto hint at
• 口吻を漏らすこうふんをもらすto give vent to (one's feeling)
• 勧めるすすめるto recommend (a book, someone for a position, etc.)
• 言い出すいいだすto be the first to say
• 匂わすにおわすto hint at
• 匂わせるにおわせるto hint at