思う vs 考える: The Difference Between “Think,” “Feel,” “Consider,” Opinions, Decisions, and Japanese Nuance

You look at a menu at a Japanese restaurant and say, “I think the ramen looks good.” Your friend is trying to decide which apartment to rent and says, “I’m thinking about it.” A colleague at work says, “I think the plan needs revision.” In English, all three of those are “think” — but in Japanese, they pull in completely different directions.

This is the trap that catches almost every English speaker learning Japanese. Both 思う（おもう）and 考える（かんがえる）translate as “think,” yet they do very different things. Mix them up and you risk sounding either too casual, too stiff, or just plain confusing to native speakers.

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly when to reach for 思う, when to use 考える, and how to handle the grammar forms that trip up learners at every level — from 〜と思います to どう考えますか. Let’s get into it.

What Does 思う Mean?

思う（おもう）is a verb of the heart. It captures the feeling-side of thinking: impressions, beliefs, emotional reactions, gut instincts, and personal opinions that arise naturally rather than through deliberate reasoning. If 考える is the brain working things out, 思う is the heart speaking up.

The kanji 思 itself combines 田（field）and 心（heart）— traditionally interpreted as thoughts growing from the heart, which is a useful mental image. When you use 思う, you’re not necessarily showing your reasoning; you’re reporting what you feel or believe to be true.

Here are some core uses of 思う:

• Personal impression: これはおいしいと思う。(I think this is delicious.) — a gut-level taste reaction
• Belief without proof: 彼は正直な人だと思います。(I believe he is an honest person.) — a feeling-based judgment
• Emotional reaction: 日本語は難しいと思った。(I thought Japanese was difficult.) — an impression that arose
• Empathy/concern: 大変だったと思います。(I imagine it must have been tough.) — expressing sympathy
• Desire/wish: 日本に行きたいと思っています。(I want to go to Japan / I’m thinking of going to Japan.) — a feeling of wanting

Notice that 思う often pairs with the quotation particle と (to), turning what comes before into the content of the thought or feeling. This と〜思う structure is one of the most important sentence patterns for intermediate learners.

Key grammar pattern: [Statement] + と + 思う = “I think/feel that [statement]”

Example: 明日は雨だと思います。(I think it will rain tomorrow.) — This is a feeling-based prediction, not a logical analysis of weather data.

Yuka

So 思う is basically when something just… comes to you? Like a feeling or a first reaction?

Rei

Exactly. You see a movie and you 思う that it was great. You meet someone and you 思う they seem kind. It’s your impression or belief, not a conclusion you reasoned your way to.

What Does 考える Mean?

考える（かんがえる）is a verb of the head. It describes active, deliberate mental work: reasoning through a problem, weighing options, planning, analyzing, or figuring something out. When you use 考える, you signal that mental effort is involved — this is not a gut reaction, it’s a process.

The kanji 考 shows an elderly figure (elder = wisdom) and suggests the act of reflecting carefully. In everyday Japanese, 考える shows up whenever thinking requires time, effort, or analysis.

Core uses of 考える:

• Working through a problem: この問題をよく考えてください。(Please think carefully about this problem.) — requires deliberation
• Planning: 将来のことを考えています。(I’m thinking about the future / planning ahead.) — forward-looking analysis
• Weighing options: どちらを買うか考えています。(I’m considering which one to buy.) — active deliberation
• Forming a considered opinion: 私はこの政策を危険だと考えます。(I consider this policy to be dangerous.) — reasoned stance
• Finding a solution: いい方法を考えよう。(Let’s think of a good method.) — creative problem-solving

Key grammar pattern: [Object/topic] + を/について + 考える = “think about / consider [topic]”

Example: 解決策を考えています。(I’m thinking of a solution / I’m working on a solution.) — the emphasis is on the cognitive effort happening right now.

One important practical note: 考える can take を as a direct object, which 思う typically cannot. You can say 方法を考える (think of a method) but you would not say 方法を思う. 思う almost always takes と to introduce the content of the thought.

〜と思います vs 〜と考えます

Both 〜と思います and 〜と考えます appear at the end of statements to express “I think that…” — but they carry very different registers and implications, and choosing the wrong one changes how you come across.

〜と思います is the everyday, go-to form for softening personal opinions. It sounds natural in conversation, meetings, casual emails, and most speaking situations. It leaves room for the listener to disagree — you’re sharing how something appears to you, not declaring a logical conclusion.

Examples with 〜と思います:

• この映画はおもしろいと思います。(I think this movie is interesting.) — casual, conversational
• もう少し時間が必要だと思います。(I think we need a little more time.) — soft suggestion
• 彼女は来ないと思います。(I don’t think she’s coming.) — personal expectation

〜と考えます sounds formal and deliberate. It signals that you’ve thought this through — often used in business settings, written reports, academic contexts, or formal presentations. It carries a sense of “this is my considered, reasoned position.”

Examples with 〜と考えます:

• このアプローチが最善だと考えます。(I consider this approach to be the best.) — formal, business context
• その案は実現可能だと考えています。(We consider that plan to be feasible.) — reasoned corporate position
• この問題の原因は予算不足にあると考えられます。(It is considered that the cause of this problem is budget shortfall.) — academic/report style

Tip for learners: When in doubt in everyday speech, use 〜と思います. Reserve 〜と考えます for written reports, formal presentations, or business emails where you want to project a well-reasoned, professional stance.

Yuka

So if I’m at a business meeting and I want to give my opinion on a proposal, I should use 〜と考えます?

Rei

Yes — 〜と考えます shows you’ve analyzed the situation. But even in many business conversations, 〜と思います is perfectly fine for everyday opinions. 〜と考えます is especially strong in written proposals, reports, or formal presentations.

どう思いますか vs どう考えますか

Both of these question forms mean “What do you think?” — but they ask for different kinds of answers, and native speakers pick up on the difference immediately.

どう思いますか (dou omoimasu ka) asks for your personal reaction, impression, or gut feeling. It’s open, conversational, and invites any kind of response — emotional, opinionated, casual. It’s what you’d say to a friend after watching a movie, trying new food, or hearing some news.

Examples:

• この料理、どう思いますか？(What do you think of this dish?) — asking for a taste reaction
• 私の新しい髪型、どう思う？(What do you think of my new haircut?) — casual, seeking personal reaction
• 彼のスピーチを聞いて、どう思いましたか？(What did you think after hearing his speech?) — asking for impression

どう考えますか (dou kangaemasu ka) asks for your considered view or analysis. It signals that the speaker wants a thoughtful, reasoned answer, not just a quick reaction. You’ll hear this in discussions, debates, classroom settings, interviews, and formal meetings.

Examples:

• この問題についてどう考えますか？(How do you think about this issue? / What is your considered view on this problem?) — expects analysis
• 日本の少子化問題についてどう考えますか？(What is your view on Japan’s declining birth rate?) — discussion/debate question
• リモートワークの将来についてどう考えていますか？(What are your thoughts on the future of remote work?) — formal opinion question

A useful way to remember this: どう思いますか is like asking “How does it feel to you?” while どう考えますか is more like asking “What is your analysis?”

思っている vs 考えている

Both the te-iru progressive forms of these verbs deserve special attention, because they are high-frequency patterns that carry distinct meanings.

Formation note: The te-form of 思う (Group 1 / u-verb) is 思って, giving 思っている. The te-form of 考える (Group 2 / ru-verb) is 考えて, giving 考えている.

思っている describes a state of belief or feeling that a person currently holds. It is not about an active process — it captures an ongoing mental state, like a belief you carry around with you.

• 日本語を勉強してよかったと思っています。(I think/feel that studying Japanese was a good decision.) — a belief I currently hold
• 彼女のことをずっと心配に思っています。(I have been feeling worried about her.) — an ongoing emotional state
• 日本に住みたいと思っています。(I am thinking of living in Japan / I want to live in Japan.) — desire as a current mental state

考えている describes active, ongoing deliberation. When you say 考えている, you suggest that the mental process is still in motion — you’re working through something right now, you haven’t finished thinking yet.

• 転職を考えています。(I’m considering changing jobs.) — actively weighing options
• どのルートが最短か考えていた。(I was thinking about which route is shortest.) — process of figuring something out
• 対策を考えています。(We’re working on countermeasures.) — ongoing problem-solving

This distinction explains a subtle but important difference in how native speakers interpret these forms. 日本に引っ越したいと思っています sounds like “I want to move to Japan (it’s a feeling I have),” while 日本に引っ越すことを考えています sounds like “I am actively deliberating about moving to Japan (weighing pros and cons).”

思う with Feelings and Empathy

One area where 思う truly stands apart from 考える is emotional and empathetic language. Japanese is a language that often emphasizes awareness of others’ feelings — and 思う is the verb that carries this emotional register.

Expressing empathy:

• 大変だったと思います。(I imagine it must have been very difficult for you.) — empathetic acknowledgment
• さびしかったと思います。(You must have felt lonely.) — imagining someone else’s emotional state
• うれしかったと思います。(I imagine you were happy.) — projecting a positive feeling

Expressing desire (wanting) with 〜たいと思う:

A particularly common structure is [verb-たい form] + と思っています, which softens a desire or plan, making it sound less abrupt than stating it directly.

• 来年、日本に行きたいと思っています。(I’m thinking of going to Japan next year / I want to go to Japan next year.) — gentle expression of a wish or plan
• 早めに準備を始めたいと思います。(I’d like to start preparing early.) — polite softening of intention in meetings or presentations

Expressing emotional reaction:

• かわいいと思った！(I thought it was cute!) — spontaneous reaction
• 不思議だと思いませんか？(Don’t you find it strange?) — inviting shared feeling

Note how in all of these, 考える would sound completely out of place. You wouldn’t 考える that something is cute — that’s a reaction, not a calculation.

Yuka

I’ve been using 〜たいと思っています a lot when I want to politely say I want to do something. Is that natural?

Rei

Very natural! 〜たいと思っています is one of the most useful softer expressions of intention in Japanese. It’s more polished than a plain 〜たいです, especially in presentations or when meeting someone new.

考える with Plans, Problems, and Decisions

If 思う owns the emotional register, 考える owns the analytical register. Whenever Japanese involves planning, problem-solving, evaluating options, or reasoning through a situation, 考える is almost always the right choice.

Problem-solving context:

• この問題の解決策を考えよう。(Let’s think of a solution to this problem.) — collaborative reasoning
• どうすればいいか、よく考えてください。(Please think carefully about what to do.) — deliberate analysis requested
• もっと効率的な方法を考えなければならない。(We need to think of a more efficient method.) — analytical obligation

Planning context:

• 旅行の計画を考えています。(I’m planning / thinking about the trip itinerary.) — active planning
• 将来の目標についてよく考えてから決めてください。(Please decide after thinking carefully about your future goals.) — deliberate forward-planning

Making decisions:

• どちらにするか、まだ考えています。(I’m still deciding which one.) — active deliberation, not yet resolved
• いろいろ考えた結果、辞退することにしました。(After thinking it over, I decided to decline.) — decision reached through process of reasoning

Academic and formal analysis:

• この現象はどのように考えられているのか。(How is this phenomenon understood/analyzed?) — academic framing
• 〜と考えられる (it is considered that…) — a formal passive construction used in papers, news, and reports

English “Think” Translation Matrix

Because English uses “think” for such a wide range of mental activity, it helps to have a clear map of which English “think” patterns correspond to 思う and which correspond to 考える. Use this table as a reference.

The clearest rule: if you could substitute “feel” or “believe” for “think” in the English sentence, use 思う. If you could substitute “analyze,” “figure out,” or “deliberate,” use 考える.

Common Mistakes English Speakers Make

Knowing the difference in theory is one thing; avoiding the common traps is another. Here are the errors English speakers make most often with these two verbs.

Mistake 1: Using 考える for personal opinions

❌ この映画はおもしろいと考えます。
✅ この映画はおもしろいと思います。

Saying 考えます for a casual opinion about a movie sounds strangely formal, as if you’ve written a report about it. For everyday opinions and impressions, 思います is natural; 考えます sounds like you’re presenting a corporate analysis.

Mistake 2: Using 思う for active deliberation

❌ どの大学に行くか思っています。
✅ どの大学に行くか考えています。

When you’re actively weighing a decision, 思っている implies you just have a vague feeling about it. 考えている correctly signals that you’re working through the decision right now.

Mistake 3: Using 思う where を is needed

❌ いいアイデアを思う。
✅ いいアイデアを考える。

思う does not take a direct object with を when describing the act of generating ideas or solutions. 考える can. You think up (考える) ideas; you form impressions (思う) about things.

Mistake 4: Overusing 〜と考えます in everyday speech

Some learners, trying to sound polished, use 〜と考えます in all contexts. In casual conversation this comes across as stiff or even cold. Save 〜と考えます for formal writing, business emails, and presentations. In conversation, 〜と思います is almost always the more natural choice.

Mistake 5: Forgetting empathetic 思う

Many learners know 思う for opinions but forget its power in empathy expressions. 大変だったと思います is an extremely important phrase for showing understanding and compassion. 考える cannot be used here at all — empathy requires 思う.

Decision Rule

Use this flowchart whenever you’re unsure which verb to reach for:

Is the "thinking" spontaneous — a feeling, impression, belief, or emotional reaction?
  YES → 思う
    └─ Everyday opinion?           → 〜と思います
    └─ Empathy / sympathy?         → 〜と思います (e.g., 大変だったと思います)
    └─ Desire / wanting to do X?   → 〜たいと思っています
    └─ Ongoing belief / state?     → 思っている

Is the "thinking" deliberate — analysis, planning, problem-solving, deciding?
  YES → 考える
    └─ Formal written opinion?     → 〜と考えます
    └─ Actively deliberating now?  → 考えている
    └─ Coming up with an idea?     → (idea) を考える
    └─ Weighing options?           → 〜か考えている

Still unsure?
  → Can you substitute "feel / believe"?  → 思う
  → Can you substitute "analyze / figure out"? → 考える
  → Neither? → 思う is usually safer for personal statements

Quick Quiz

Fill in each blank with the correct form of 思う or 考える. Answers are below.

1. この料理はおいしいと______。(I think this food is delicious.)
2. どうやって問題を解決するか、よく______ください。(Please think carefully about how to solve the problem.)
3. 来年は留学したいと______います。(I’m thinking of studying abroad next year.)
4. 新しい会社に転職することを______います。(I’m considering changing jobs to a new company.)
5. 彼女はとても努力したと______ます。(I think she worked really hard — expressing empathy.)

Answers:

1. 思います — personal taste impression → 思う
2. 考えて — deliberate problem-solving → 考える (te-form used with ください)
3. 思って — desire/wanting expressed as a current feeling → 思っています
4. 考えて — active deliberation about a career decision → 考えています
5. 思い — empathetic acknowledgment → 思います

Which do you find trickier — 思う or 考える? Drop a sentence you made in the comments below. I’d love to see how you’re using them!

Keep Learning

Now that you have 思う and 考える sorted out, keep building your vocabulary and grammar foundation with these related guides:

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