考える・勘える・稽える|かんがえるkangaeru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
考える考える is the most common and standard form, and is the form beginners should use for the meanings “to think” and “to think about.”
勘える勘える is a rarely used kanji-and-kana variant of 考える; learners will seldom see it and should use 考える instead.
稽える稽える is a rarely used kanji-and-kana variant of 考える; learners will seldom see it and should use 考える instead.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto think (about, of); to think over; to ponder; to contemplate; to reflect (on); to meditate (on)
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto consider; to bear in mind; to allow for; to take into consideration
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto think (that); to believe; to hold (a view); to judge; to conclude; to suspect
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto intend (to do); to think of (doing); to plan
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto predict; to anticipate; to expect; to imagine
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto come up with; to think up; to contrive; to devise
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto consider (as); to regard (as); to look on (as); to take; to view
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 考える（かんがえる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 考えます（かんがえます） |
| Negative (nai) | 考えない（かんがえない） |
| polite (masen) | 考えません（かんがえません） |
| classical zu / nu | 考えず・考えぬ（かんがえず・かんがえぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 考えた（かんがえた） |
| polite (mashita) | 考えました（かんがえました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 考えなかった（かんがえなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 考えませんでした（かんがえませんでした） |
| Te form | 考えて（かんがえて） |
| Potential | 考えられる（かんがえられる） |
| Passive | 考えられる（かんがえられる） |
| Causative | 考えさせる（かんがえさせる） |
| Causative passive | 考えさせられる（かんがえさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 考えれば（かんがえれば） |
| tara | 考えたら（かんがえたら） |
| Volitional | 考えよう（かんがえよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 考えましょう（かんがえましょう） |
| Imperative | 考えろ（かんがえろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym思うおもうNeutralFeelings and judgements that surface in the mind; stresses subjective impressions, while 「考える」 stresses reasoning things out.
- Synonym考慮こうりょWrittenWritten. Taking certain factors into account, as in 「事情を考慮する」; the nuance is weighing and accommodating them.
- Synonym思索しさくWrittenWritten. Systematic, in-depth thinking, as in 「思索にふける」; has a philosophical colouring.
- Synonym思案しあんWrittenWritten. Puzzling over something again and again in search of a way forward, as in 「思案に暮れる」; often suggests being unable to decide.
- Synonym思考しこうNeutralRational thinking as an activity, as in 「思考力」 or 「論理的思考」; common in academic contexts.
- Synonym考察こうさつWrittenWritten. Thinking and studying a subject in depth to get at how it works; typical of academic papers and reports.
- Synonym案じるあんじるWrittenWritten. Worrying about someone or something, as in 「身を案じる」, or planning something out.
- Synonym思惟しいWrittenWritten. Concentrating the mind in contemplative thought; mostly in philosophy and Buddhism.
- Synonym慮るおもんばかるWrittenWritten. Considering others or the consequences thoroughly, as in 「相手の気持ちを慮る」; carries a considerate nuance.
- Synonym案ずるあんずるWrittenWritten. Mostly worrying or fretting about something, but also devising plans, as in 「一計を案ずる」.
- Synonym考え抜くかんがえぬくNeutralThinking a problem through to the very end, as in 「考え抜いた末」; does not necessarily lead to a conclusion.
- Synonym思い巡らすおもいめぐらすNeutralMulling something over repeatedly and from every angle, with a pensive air, as in 「将来を思い巡らす」.
- Synonym省察せいさつWrittenWritten. Reflecting on and examining yourself; mostly in philosophical contexts.
- Related思いやるおもいやるNeutralImagining yourself in another's position; centres on consideration and sympathy for others.
- Related推し量るおしはかるWrittenWritten. Inferring the unknown from what is known, as in 「心中を推し量る」.
- Related思いつくおもいつくNeutralAn idea popping into your head, as in 「いいアイデアを思いつく」.
- Related一考いっこうWrittenWritten. Giving a matter some thought; mostly in 「一考の余地がある」 and 「ご一考ください」.
- Related思い及ぶおもいおよぶNeutralThought reaching as far as a certain point; most often seen in the negative 「思い及ばない」.
- Related考えつくかんがえつくNeutralHitting on an idea through deliberate thought; involves more active mental effort than 「思いつく」.
For thinking things over in your head, 「考える」 is the default. Use 「思う」 for feelings and judgements that arise in the mind, 「考慮」 for weighing factors, 「思索」 for deep, orderly thought, 「思いつく」 for ideas that suddenly come to you, 「思いやる」 for consideration for others, and 「案じる」 for worrying. The remaining written or formal words are 思案, 思惟, 慮る, 案ずる, 考察, 省察, 推し量る and 一考; 「思考」, 「考え抜く」, 「思い巡らす」, 「思い及ぶ」 and 「考えつく」 are neutral.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
