考える vs 思う
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 考える
Listen to 思う
| 考える | 思う |
|---|---|
ka-NGA-e-ru verb | omou verb |
| to think; to consider; to reflect on something | to think; to feel; to believe |
How they differ
思う is broader and softer than 考える. It can mean a personal opinion, belief, or feeling, while 考える is more about actively thinking through an idea or problem. 思う is often used for impressions or judgments rather than deliberate analysis.
When to use each
When to use 考える: Use 考える when you mean to think about something carefully, reason through it, or consider options.
When to use 思う: Use 思う when you want to express what you feel or believe, especially if the idea is more subjective than analytical.
Side-by-side examples
- この問題についてよく考える。
(I will think carefully about this problem.) - この問題は難しいと思う。
(I think this problem is difficult.)
Register & nuance: 思う is very common in everyday speech and is less analytical in tone than 考える.