Translation guide
The English phrase "think of" covers several distinct mental actions: having an idea come to mind, considering or remembering someone/something, forming an opinion, and imagining or creating. This guide breaks down these meanings and provides natural Japanese expressions for each.
When a thought, idea, or memory suddenly occurs to you.
The most common way to say an idea 'comes to mind' or you 'hit upon' something. Often used for spontaneous ideas.
いいアイデアを思いついた。
I thought of a good idea.
何か思いついた？
Did you think of something?
Literally 'float into one's head'. Emphasizes the image or thought appearing naturally.
彼の名前が頭に浮かんだ。
His name came to mind.
To call to mind, visualize, or recall an image or memory intentionally.
故郷の景色を思い浮かべた。
I thought of the scenery of my hometown.
To have someone or something in your thoughts, often with concern or affection.
The standard way to say 'think of/about someone/something'. Use with a person or thing before のこと.
いつも君のことを考えている。
I'm always thinking of you.
将来のことを考えてください。
Please think of the future.
To remember or recall someone/something. Focuses on bringing a memory back.
To have a particular opinion about someone or something.
Pattern for 'think of A as B'. Insert the person/thing and your opinion.
彼をいい人だと思う。
I think of him as a good person.
この本を面白いと思う。
I think of this book as interesting.
Asking 'What do you think of ~?'.
この映画についてどう思う？
What do you think of this movie?
To invent, devise, or conceive something new.
To think up, devise, or come up with a plan, solution, or invention.
新しい方法を考え出した。
I thought of a new method.
More formal, often used for inventions or designs.
彼は新しいシステムを考案した。
He thought of a new system.
思いつく is for sudden ideas, while 考える is for deliberate thinking. Use 思いつく when an idea pops into your head, and 考える when you are actively thinking about something.
突然いい考えを思いついた。
Suddenly I thought of a good idea.
その問題についてよく考えた。
I thought about the problem carefully.
The English phrase 'think of' cannot be directly translated as 思うの. Use the patterns above depending on the meaning.
彼の名前が思い出せない。
I can't think of his name.
1から10までの数字を一つ思いついてください。
Think of a number between 1 and 10.
この計画についてどう思いますか？
What do you think of this plan?
彼女は昔のことを思い出した。
She thought of the old days.