思う

• Reading: おもう
• Romaji: omou
• Kanji breakdown: 思 (shi/omo) — to think, thought
• Pronunciation: /o.mo.ɯ/

Meaning

To think; to consider; to believe; to feel (that). Expresses personal thoughts and opinions.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb with a u-stem. The te-form is 思って. Commonly used with と思う to express opinions or beliefs. Often appears in polite form と思います when giving one's view. Different from 考える (kangaeru), which implies more deliberate thinking or reasoning, while 思う is more about feeling or believing.

Examples

1. この映画はおもしろいと思います。 I think this movie is interesting.
2. 明日は雨だと思う。 I think it'll rain tomorrow.
3. 日本語は楽しいと思いました。 I thought Japanese was fun.

Usage Guide

Context: opinions, daily life, conversation

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese omofu. The kanji 思 combines 田 (field) and 心 (heart/mind), suggesting thoughts cultivated in the mind like plants in a field.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal