Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
To think; To believe; To have an opinion
🎯 Primary Function
To express one’s personal thoughts, opinions, or beliefs about something.
📋 Grammar Structure
Plain form of verb/い-adjective/な-adjective/noun + と + 思う(おもう) Verb Plain Form + と 思う
い-adjective Plain Form + と 思う
な-adjective Plain Form (drop だ) + だ と 思う (or drop だ if it’s a sentence-ending particle like です/ます and connecting to と 思う)
Noun Plain Form (drop だ) + だ と 思う (or drop だ if it’s a sentence-ending particle like です/ます and connecting to と 思う) *Note: When quoting a full sentence ending in です or ます, you might see それは本当ですと思います (Sore wa hontō desu to omoimasu), but it’s more natural to use the plain form: それは本当だと思う (Sore wa hontō da to omou). For な-adjectives and nouns directly before と 思う, the structure is [な-adj root/Noun] だ と 思う.
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Can be used in formal situations, often with a slightly more polite tone (e.g., using ~と思います).
Informal Situations
Very common and versatile in informal conversations.
Written Language
Used in written language, especially in essays, emails, or articles where personal opinions are expressed.
Spoken Language
Extremely common and fundamental in spoken Japanese for sharing thoughts.
💡 Common Applications
Expressing personal opinion
State what you think or feel about a topic.
Example: この本は面白いと思います。 (Kono hon wa omoshiroi to omoimasu.) – I think this book is interesting.
Stating a belief or assumption
Indicate something you believe to be true, even if not certain.
Example: 明日は晴れると思います。 (Ashita wa hareru to omoimasu.) – I think it will be sunny tomorrow.
Quoting or reporting thoughts (often implicit)
Mention what someone else thinks or said they thought (less common for direct quote, more for summarizing internal thought).
Example: 彼は疲れていると思いました。 (Kare wa tsukarete iru to omoimashita.) – I thought he was tired.
Frequency
Very High
Difficulty
Low (Conceptual understanding is simple, but correct conjugation requires care).
Example Sentences
新しいレストランは美味しいと思います。
I think the new restaurant is delicious.
週末は家にいると思います。
I think I will stay home this weekend.
彼女は明日来ないと思います。
I think she won’t come tomorrow.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Plain form before と 思う
Always use the plain form (dictionary form, ない form, た form, なかった form) of the verb, い-adjective, な-adjective, or noun before と 思う.
Example: ✕ 行きますと思います (Ikimasu to omoimasu)
〇 行くと思います (Iku to omoimasu) – I think I will go.
だ before な-adjectives and nouns
When connecting a な-adjective or noun directly before と 思う, use だ. This だ is the plain form copula.
Example: ✕ きれいと思います (Kirei to omoimasu)
〇 きれいだと思います (Kirei da to omoimasu) – I think it is beautiful.
✕ 先生と思います (Sensei to omoimasu)
〇 先生だと思います (Sensei da to omoimasu) – I think he is a teacher.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using the ます form before と 思う.
✅ Use the plain form instead.
と is a particle that connects to the plain form of the preceding word or clause.
❌ Omitting だ before な-adjectives or nouns when directly preceding と 思う.
✅ Include だ before the な-adjective root or noun.
だ acts as the plain form of the copula (です) in this structure.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Generally polite and safe for expressing opinions. Adding ます (と思います) makes it more formal.
Social Situations: Appropriate in most social situations when sharing personal views or beliefs. It softens direct statements.
Regional Variations: The structure itself is standard Japanese, though regional dialects might use different conjugations or particles in place of と, but と 思う is universally understood.
🔍 Subtle Differences
~と思う vs. ~と思います
と思う (plain form) is slightly less formal than 思います (polite form).
When to use: と思う is common in casual conversation. 思います is more appropriate in polite or slightly more formal contexts.
~と思う vs. ~と考える (~to kangaeru)
~と考える implies more careful consideration, planning, or deeper thought than ~と思う, which can be a more immediate impression or opinion.
When to use: Use ~と思う for general opinions or beliefs. Use ~と考える when you have actively thought something through or are formulating a plan.
~と思うんですが (~to omoun desu ga)
Adding んですが (んです + が) makes the statement softer and often implies you are seeking agreement or feedback.
When to use: Use ~と思うんですが when expressing an opinion you are slightly uncertain about, or when you want to invite discussion.
📝 Conjugation Notes
Remember to use the plain form: verb dictionary/ない/た/なかった; い-adjective plain form; な-adjective root + だ; noun + だ.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
The particle と is pronounced lightly. The い in 思う is usually pronounced.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of と 思う as “I think that [plain form sentence]”. The と particle acts like the English “that” clause connector in this context.
Practice Exercises
次の文を読んで、正しい形を選びなさい。
「明日は雨が＿＿＿＿と思います。」
降ります
降る
降って
降ったの
「あの人は＿＿＿＿だと思います。」
親切ます
親切だ
親切に
親切な
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