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
と, 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
だ after a noun or
な-Adjective.
-
ごめん、ちょっと遅(おく)れると思(おも)う。
Sorry, I think I'm going to be a little late.
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その言(い)い方(かた)は酷(ひど)いと思(おも)うよ。
I think the way you said that was harsh.
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俺(おれ)はあの人(ひと)が綺麗(きれい)だと思(おも)う。
I think that person looks pretty.
-
これはフランス語(ご)だと思(おも)う。
I think this is French.
Although this structure usually requires
だ after nouns and
な-Adjectives, it is often omitted in casual speech.
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.
-
ジェームスは自分(じぶん)が賢(かしこ)いと思(おも)っている。
James thinks he is smart.
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来年(らいねん)に新(あたら)しいオートバイを買(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.