How to say "thought" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 思いおもいnounCovers a thought as something that rises in the mind, often charged with emotion — feelings for a person, a wish, a longing. Closer to 'feeling' than to detached reasoning.
- 思考しこうsuru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verb, no-adjectiveThought as an activity or process — the mind working through something, reasoning things out. This is the word for discussing how someone thinks, or for careful, deliberate thought.
- 思想しそうnounThought in the intellectual sense: a body or system of ideas, such as the thought of a philosopher or a political ideology. Not for an individual passing thought.
- 考えかんがえnounThe word for one's thinking on a particular matter — a view, opinion or idea about something. What you offer when asked for your thoughts on a question or plan.
- 念ねんnounGlossed 'thought', but seldom the word you want on its own; it chiefly conveys mindful attention or concern, and is met mainly in set expressions rather than as a free-standing noun for 'thought'.
Use 「思い」 for a thought tinged with feeling, 思考 for thinking as a process, 思想 for systems of ideas, 「考え」 for one's view on a matter, and 念 only in set expressions.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 思いおもいthought
- 思考しこうthought
- 思想しそうthought
- 考えかんがえthinking
- 念ねんsense
- 想そうconception
- 所存しょぞんopinion
- 思慮しりょprudence
- 一考いっこうconsideration
- 思いつきおもいつきidea
- 想念そうねんthought
- 考こうthought
- 思念しねんthought
- 思惟しいthought
- 慮りおもんぱかりthought
- パンセthought
- 存意ぞんいthought
- 了見りょうけんidea
- 思料しりょうcareful consideration
- 物思いものおもいreverie
- 気持ちきもちthought
- つもりbelief
- 議ぎthought
- 心算しんさんbelief
- 愚考ぐこう(one's own) thought
See also
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