考案・考按|こうあんkouan[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
考案考案 is the most common form and the recommended choice for learners; it is written entirely in kanji.
考按考按 is a rarely used form, also written entirely in kanji; learners will generally want to use 考案 instead.
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbplan; device; idea; design; contrivance; conception; invention
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 考案する（こうあんする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 考案します（こうあんします） |
| Negative (nai) | 考案しない（こうあんしない） |
| polite (masen) | 考案しません（こうあんしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 考案せず・考案せぬ（こうあんせず・こうあんせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 考案した（こうあんした） |
| polite (mashita) | 考案しました（こうあんしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 考案しなかった（こうあんしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 考案しませんでした（こうあんしませんでした） |
| Te form | 考案して（こうあんして） |
| Potential | 考案できる（こうあんできる） |
| Passive | 考案される（こうあんされる） |
| Causative | 考案させる（こうあんさせる） |
| Causative passive | 考案させられる（こうあんさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 考案すれば（こうあんすれば） |
| tara | 考案したら（こうあんしたら） |
| Volitional | 考案しよう（こうあんしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 考案しましょう（こうあんしましょう） |
| Imperative | 考案しろ（こうあんしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym着想ちゃくそうWrittenWritten/formal prose. Refers to the idea or starting point of a conception, as in 「着想がいい」; 「考案」 centers on working out a concrete method or device.
- Synonym発想はっそうNeutralNeutral. An idea or way of thinking, as in 「発想の転換」; stresses the thought process and need not take concrete shape the way a 「考案」 does.
- Synonym立案りつあんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Drafting a plan or scheme, as in 「計画の立案」; the emphasis is on producing a written plan rather than inventing a device.
- Synonym意匠いしょうWrittenWritten/formal prose. Conception of a product's appearance, mostly in design and legal contexts; the related right is called 「意匠権」.
- Synonym発明はつめいNeutralNeutral. Inventing something entirely new, as in 「電話の発明」; the emphasis is on being the first ever, which 「考案」 does not require.
- Synonym編み出すあみだすNeutralVerb. Working out a new method or technique through persistent effort, as in 「必殺技を編み出す」; stresses originality of the technique.
- Synonym案出あんしゅつWrittenWritten/formal prose and fairly rare. Used for thinking up methods or inventions; close in sense to 「考案」 but leaning more abstract.
- Related企画きかくNeutralNeutral. Planning events or products, as in 「企画会議」; centers on plans for organizing and running a project, not on devising a method.
- Related構想こうそうWrittenWritten/formal prose. An overall conception or blueprint, as in 「都市構想」; stresses the large-scale, big-picture framework rather than a single device.
- Related設計せっけいNeutralNeutral. Drawing up the designs for buildings or machines, and figuratively planning one's life; the focus is on concrete design work.
- RelatedデザインNeutralNeutral loanword. Design or styling; the focus is on outward appearance and form, and it is common in everyday speech.
- Related捻り出すひねりだすCasualColloquial verb. Racking your brains to come up with something, and also scraping together money or time; the nuance is laboriously squeezing it out.
- Related想到そうとうWrittenWritten/formal prose and rare. Suddenly thinking of something; the emphasis is on an idea popping into the mind, not on devising it deliberately.
Use 「考案」 for devising a new method or device through ingenuity, as in 「新しい方法を考案する」 or 「考案者」. For inspiration or a way of thinking pick 「着想」 or 「発想」; for something never seen before, 「発明」; for plans and schemes, 「立案」 or 「企画」; for an original technique, 「編み出す」. For overall blueprints use 「構想」, and for appearance design 「デザイン」 or 「意匠」.
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
