Translation and Meaning of: 思う - omou

If you are learning Japanese or are curious about the language, you may have come across the word 思う[おもう]. It is an essential verb in everyday vocabulary and frequently appears in conversations, texts, and even in songs and animes. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, and practical usage, as well as tips for memorizing it efficiently. Whether to expand your knowledge or to use in daily phrases, understanding 思う is an important step in learning Japanese.

Meaning and translation of 思う

思う is a Japanese verb that means "to think," "to believe," or "to consider." It expresses opinions, feelings, and subjective impressions, being used when someone wants to share what is on their mind. Unlike 考える[かんがえる], which implies more logical reasoning, 思う has a more personal and emotional tone.

In translations to English, depending on the context, it can be interpreted as "think," "imagine," or even "feel." For example, in a sentence like 彼は優しいと思う[かれはやさしいとおもう], the most natural translation would be "I think he is kind." This flexibility makes the verb widely used in various situations.

Origin and writing of the kanji 思

The kanji 思 is composed of two elements: the radical 田[た], which represents a field or land, and 心[こころ], which means "heart" or "mind." This combination suggests the idea of thoughts cultivated in the mind, as if they were crops in a field. The etymology reflects well the meaning of the verb, as it is connected to internal ideas and feelings.

It is worth noting that although the radical 田 appears in other kanji related to field work, in 思 it has no direct relation to agriculture. The most accepted interpretation is that it represents a metaphor for something that grows within us, just like thoughts.

How to use 思う in everyday life

思う is a versatile verb and appears in various contexts. One of the most common forms is in the structure [sentence] + と思う, used to express personal opinions. For example, 美味しいと思う[おいしいとおもう] means "I think it's delicious." This construction is so frequent that it becomes almost automatic for those who speak Japanese.

Additionally, it can also be used to describe fleeting feelings, as in 寂しいと思う[さびしいとおもう] ("I feel that I am lonely"). Being a verb that deals with subjectivity, it is common to see it in informal conversations, discussions, and even in song lyrics.

Tips for memorizing 思う

An effective way to remember 思う is to associate it with the kanji 心, which appears in other terms related to emotions, such as 感情[かんじょう] (feelings) and 恋[こい] (love). This connection helps to recall that the verb is linked to thoughts and internal impressions.

Another tip is to practice with short everyday phrases, like そう思う[そうおもう] ("I think so") or 違うと思う[ちがうとおもう] ("I don't think so"). Repeating these expressions in real contexts makes it easier to memorize and use the words naturally.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 考える (Kangaeru) - Think, consider, evaluate possibilities.
• 想う (Omou) - To think or feel something with emotion, often related to feelings or desires.
• 思考する (Shikou suru) - Reflect, reason in a logical or analytical way.
• 考慮する (Kouryo suru) - Consider, weigh options or circumstances.
• 考え出す (Kangaedasu) - Reaching a conclusion or idea after a process of reflection.

思う

Romaji: omou
Kana: おもう
Type: Noun and verb
L: jlpt-n4

Translation / Meaning: think; to feel

Meaning in English: to think;to feel

Definition: think about ~.

Example Sentences - (思う) omou

See below some example sentences:

私は彼女の服装がとても素敵だと思います。

Watashi wa kanojo no fukusō ga totemo suteki da to omoimasu

I think her clothes are very beautiful.

I think her clothes are really cool.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 彼女 - Japanese noun meaning "she"
• の - Japanese particle that indicates possession, in this case, "hers."
• 服装 - Japanese noun meaning "clothing" or "clothes"
• が - Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case, "clothing"
• とても - Japanese adverb that means "very"
• 素敵 - Japanese adjective meaning "beautiful" or "cool"
• だ - Japanese verb that indicates the existence or identity of the subject, in this case, "is"
• と - Japanese particle that indicates a direct quotation of what was said or thought, in this case, "to think"
• 思います - Japanese verb that means "to think" or "to believe"

私たちはゆとりを持って生きることが大切だと思います。

Watashitachi wa yutori o motte ikiru koto ga taisetsu da to omoimasu

I think it's important to live with lots of space.

• 私たち - 「私たち」
• は - Japanese topic particle
• ゆとり - "Space" or "Margin" in Japanese
• を - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
• 持って - "Have" or "Keep" in Japanese
• 生きる - "Viver" in Japanese
• こと - nominal particle in Japanese
• が - Subject particle in Japanese.
• 大切 - "importante" in Japanese
• と - Japanese quotation particle
• 思います - "Think" in Japanese (polite form)

私たちは美味しい且つ健康的な食事を食べることが大切だと思います。

Watashitachi wa oishii katsu kenkō

I think it's important to eat delicious and healthy meals.

• 私たち - Personal pronoun "we"
• 美味しい - Adjective "delicious"
• 且つ - conjunction "and"
• 健康的な - adjective "healthy"
• 食事 - noun "meal"
• を - direct object" particle
• 食べる - verb "to eat"
• こと - noun "thing"
• が - subject" particle
• 大切 - adjective "important"
• だ - verb to be"
• と - quote" particle
• 思います - verb "to think"

私たちは彼らと比べても同じくらい優れていると思います。

Watashitachi wa karera to kurabete mo onaji kurai sugurete iru to omoimasu

I think we are as good as they are.

• 私たちは - Personal pronoun "we"
• 彼らと - with them
• 比べても - even comparing
• 同じくらい - same level
• 優れている - be excellent
• と思います - I think

身なりがきちんとしている人は信頼できると思います。

Minarigashi ga kichinto shite iru hito wa shinrai dekiru to omoimasu

I think people dressed appropriately can be trusted.

• 身なり - Appearance
• が - subject particle
• きちんと - properly, correctly
• している - be doing
• 人 - person
• は - Topic particle
• 信頼 - Confidence
• できる - Be able to
• と - Quote particle
• 思います - believe, think