～と思われる

• Reading: とおもわれる
• Romaji: to omowareru
• Formation: Clause + と思われる
• Kanji breakdown: 思う (おもう) — to think, to feel

Meaning

A verb phrase indicating what the speaker or writer feels spontaneously or expressing a hesitant, indirect opinion. It translates as 'it seems that...' or 'it is thought that...'

と思われる is the passive form of と思う and serves two distinct functions. First, it can express a spontaneous, natural feeling that arises unbidden — something the speaker cannot help but think. Second, and more commonly in formal writing, it presents an opinion indirectly and objectively, as if the thought comes from general consensus rather than the individual. This makes it softer and more academic than と思う. It is widely used in research papers, news reports, and formal analyses. In everyday speech, と思われる can also carry the nuance of 'I can't help but think that...' The form is distinct from と考えられる (it is considered), which emphasizes deliberate reasoning.

Examples

1. この遺跡は千年以上前のものだと思われる。 These ruins are thought to be over a thousand years old.
2. 景気は徐々に回復していると思われる。 The economy is believed to be gradually recovering.
3. 原因は睡眠不足にあると思われます。 The cause is thought to lie in lack of sleep.

Usage Guide

Context: written, academic, news, formal speech

Tone: objective

Do Say

• この調査結果は信頼できると思われる。
• 犯行は深夜に行われたと思われます。
• 今後も需要は増え続けると思われる。

Don't Say

• このケーキはおいしいと思われる。(Using と思われる for personal taste in casual contexts — it sounds overly formal and detached for subjective preferences) → このケーキはおいしいと思う。
• 彼は来ると思われている。(Confusing と思われる with と思われている — the latter means 'is thought by others to' and implies a different nuance of public opinion) → 彼は来ると思われる。

Origin & History

Passive form of 思う (to think). In classical Japanese, the passive often conveyed spontaneous or involuntary feelings (自発, jihatsu). This nuance persists in modern と思われる.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal