思考|しこうshikou[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verb, no-adjectivethought; consideration; thinking
    彼女かのじょの思考法しこうほうは合理的ごうりてきだった。↗
    Her way of thinking was rational.
Conjugation
Dictionary form思考する(しこうする)
Polite (masu)思考します(しこうします)
Negative (nai)思考しない(しこうしない)
polite (masen)思考しません(しこうしません)
classical zu / nu思考せず・思考せぬ(しこうせず・しこうせぬ)
Past (ta)思考した(しこうした)
polite (mashita)思考しました(しこうしました)
Past negative (nakatta)思考しなかった(しこうしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)思考しませんでした(しこうしませんでした)
Te form思考して(しこうして)
Potential思考できる(しこうできる)
Passive思考される(しこうされる)
Causative思考させる(しこうさせる)
Causative passive思考させられる(しこうさせられる)
Conditional (ba)思考すれば(しこうすれば)
tara思考したら(しこうしたら)
Volitional思考しよう(しこうしよう)
polite (mashou)思考しましょう(しこうしましょう)
Imperative思考しろ(しこうしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym思索しさくWrittenWritten/formal noun for deep, systematic reflection, as in 「思索にふける」; 「思考」 covers thinking in general.
  • Synonym思案しあんNeutralNoun for turning something over as you try to decide; carries a sense of hesitation, as in 「思案に暮れる」.
  • Synonym考慮こうりょWrittenWritten/formal noun for taking a factor into account, as in 「事情を考慮する」; it weighs circumstances rather than naming thinking itself.
  • Synonym思慮しりょWrittenWritten/formal noun for prudent, careful thinking; stresses steadiness, as in 「思慮深い」.
  • Synonym考えるかんがえるNeutralThe everyday verb for thinking or considering something; by far the most common, stressing deliberate, conscious thought.
  • Synonym思うおもうNeutralVerb for thinking or feeling that something is so; centres on subjective impressions and emotions rather than reasoning.
  • Synonym思惟しいWrittenWritten/formal noun for concentrated deep thinking, mostly in philosophical or Buddhist contexts and rare today; 「思考」 is general.
  • Related検討けんとうNeutralNoun for examining plans, data or possibilities from every angle, as in 「検討中」; 「思考」 is the mental activity itself.
  • Related思料しりょうWrittenWritten/formal noun for careful deliberation and judgement; legal-official in flavour and rare today.
  • Related思い見るおもいみるWrittenWritten/formal verb for reflecting deeply; old-fashioned and rarely seen now — say 「考える」 in everyday speech.
  • Related慮るおもんばかるWrittenWritten/formal verb for being mindful of someone's situation or feelings, as in 「相手の気持ちを慮る」; 「思考」 is thinking itself.
  • Related慮りおもんぱかりWrittenWritten/formal noun for careful thought and concerns; not often used.
  • Antonym直感ちょっかんNeutralAntonym: grasping things instantly by feel rather than by reasoned 「思考」.
  • Antonym無思考NeutralAntonym: acting without thinking, following blindly — the opposite of 「思考」.

Use 「思考」 for rational thinking and thought as an activity, as in 「思考力」 and 「プラス思考」. For deep, systematic reflection pick 「思索」; for mulling over a decision 「思案」; for weighing factors 「考慮」; for examining plans or data 「検討」. In daily speech 「考える」 is the default, and 「直感」 is intuition instead of thought.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 論理ろんりを辿たどり考かんがえること。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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