思い返す|おもいかえすomoikaesu[4]nakadaka (mid-high)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto re-think; to think back upon; to change one's mind
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 思い返す（おもいかえす） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 思い返します（おもいかえします） |
| Negative (nai) | 思い返さない（おもいかえさない） |
| polite (masen) | 思い返しません（おもいかえしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 思い返さず・思い返さぬ（おもいかえさず・おもいかえさぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 思い返した（おもいかえした） |
| polite (mashita) | 思い返しました（おもいかえしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 思い返さなかった（おもいかえさなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 思い返しませんでした（おもいかえしませんでした） |
| Te form | 思い返して（おもいかえして） |
| Potential | 思い返せる（おもいかえせる） |
| Passive | 思い返される（おもいかえされる） |
| Causative | 思い返させる（おもいかえさせる） |
| Causative passive | 思い返させられる（おもいかえさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 思い返せば（おもいかえせば） |
| tara | 思い返したら（おもいかえしたら） |
| Volitional | 思い返そう（おもいかえそう） |
| polite (mashou) | 思い返しましょう（おもいかえしましょう） |
| Imperative | 思い返せ（おもいかえせ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym思い直すおもいなおすNeutralFocuses on revising an idea or decision you once settled on; it can also mean recalling. 「思い返す」 is more often used for looking back on the past.
- Synonym再考さいこうWrittenA written-style Sino-Japanese word for reconsidering a decision, as in 「再考を促す」; 「思い返す」 can also mean recalling the past.
- Synonym考え直すかんがえなおすNeutralThe most common everyday word for reconsidering something. 「思い返す」 additionally carries the sense of thinking back on the past.
- Synonym顧みるかえりみるWrittenA written-style word for looking back and reflecting; in the negative it also means to disregard. 「思い返す」 is more colloquial.
- Synonym思い出すおもいだすNeutralThe most common word for recalling the past or something forgotten. 「思い返す」 stresses deliberately mulling it over in your mind, or rethinking.
- Synonym想起そうきWrittenA written-style, psychology-flavored term for calling something to mind. 「思い返す」 is more everyday.
- Synonym思い起こすおもいおこすNeutralMeans deliberately summoning up a memory, with a somewhat weighty tone. 「思い返す」 can also mean changing your mind.
- Synonym思い浮かべるおもいうかべるNeutralMeans picturing something in your mind's eye; it can also mean imagining. 「思い返す」 centers on recollection or rethinking.
- Related振り返るふりかえるNeutralLiterally to turn and look behind you; by extension, to look back on the past, as in 「一年を振り返る」. 「思い返す」 is more about inward recollection.
- Related回想かいそうWrittenA written-style word for recalling one's own experiences, mostly used as a noun, as in 「回想録」. 「思い返す」 is more everyday.
- Related回顧かいこWrittenA written-style word for looking back on the past, often for exhibitions or summaries, as in 「回顧展」. 「思い返す」 stays personal and inward.
- Related追憶ついおくWrittenA written-style word tinged with nostalgia and wistfulness. 「思い返す」 is neutral in tone and can also mean reconsidering.
- Related再検討さいけんとうWrittenMeans re-examining and discussing a plan or proposal again; common at work. 「思い返す」 concerns one's own thoughts.
- Related再議さいぎFormalA formal term for debating a matter again at a meeting. 「思い返す」 is an individual rethinking.
- Related再思さいしWrittenA written-style word for thinking something over again, but rarely used; say 「再考」 or 「考え直す」 instead.
- Related思い回すおもいまわすCasualA colloquial word for mulling things over or recalling, but rarely used; 「思い返す」 is more common.
- Related再検さいけんWrittenMeans rechecking or re-examining something, centered on inspection rather than thought; its sense is fairly far from 「思い返す」.
To recall something, say 「思い出す」; to look back on the past, 「振り返る」. 「思い返す」 covers mentally recalling something or changing your mind, 「考え直す」 is the everyday word for reconsidering, and 「再考」 is its written-style counterpart. For formal prose about the past, 「回想」「回顧」「追憶」 are available; 「再検討」 is for re-examining plans at work.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
See also
