Grammar Info
N4 Lesson 3: 1/18

と思(おも)う
I think

Structure
Casual
Polite
Verb + 思う(1)
[い]Adjective + 思う(1)
[な]Adjective + + 思う(1)
Noun + + 思う(1)

(1) 思っている
Verb + 思います(1)
[い]Adjective + 思います(1)
[な]Adjective + + 思います(1)
Noun + + 思います(1)

(1) 思っています
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
To express that you ‘think’ something in Japanese, the common expression と思(おも)う is regularly used. As you can probably guess, this is just a combination of the particle , plus the う-Verb 思(おも)う. とおもう can be used after any verb, い-Adjective, な-Adjective, or noun, but will require after a noun or な-Adjective.
  • ごめん、ちょっと遅(おく)れと思(おも)う
    Sorry, I think I'm going to be a little late.
  • その言(い)い方(かた)酷(ひど)いと思(おも)う
    I think the way you said that was harsh.
  • 俺(おれ)あの人(ひと)綺麗(きれい)と思(おも)う
    I think that person looks pretty.
  • これフランス語(ご)と思(おも)う
    I think this is French.
Although this structure usually requires after nouns and な-Adjectives, it is often omitted in casual speech.
  • 私(わたし)日本(にほん)安全(あんぜん)と思(おも)う
    I think Japan is safe. (Ungrammatical Japanese, but quite common)
Caution
If you want to express what somebody else is thinking, と思(おも)っている will be used. This is due to と思(おも)う having a sense of ‘permanence’, and thus not something that the speaker could know about another person. と思(おも)っている can also be used to express your own thoughts when they are currently happening.
  • ジェームス自分(じぶん)賢(かしこ)と思(おも)っている
    James thinks he is smart.
  • 来年(らいねん)に新(あたら)しオートバイ買(か)いたいと思(おも)っている
    I am thinking that I want to buy a new motorcycle next year.
Slow Male
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Hide Japanese
Hide English
明日(あした)映画(えいが)見(み)に行(い)くと思(おも)う
I think I will go see a movie tomorrow.
Play  
このズボンいいと思(おも)います
I think these pants are good.
Play  
あの店(みせ)行(い)ったことがあると思(おも)う
I think that I have been to that store before.
Play  
Books
みんなの日本語 I
Page 134 [CH 21]
Genki I 2nd Edition
Page 193
Marugoto Elementary 1 (A2) Rikai
Page 162
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 156