Translation guide
To consider something carefully and thoroughly, often to reach a conclusion or plan. This guide covers how to express 'think out' in Japanese, from careful deliberation to planning and problem-solving.
To consider all aspects of a matter thoroughly before deciding or acting.
The most common and neutral way to say 'think carefully'. It implies taking time to consider something.
Please think out that problem carefully.
Emphasizes taking one's time to think deeply and thoroughly, without rushing.
Let's think it out thoroughly before reaching a conclusion.
A formal term for careful deliberation or pondering. Suitable for written or formal contexts.
He thought out the proposal carefully.
To create a plan, solution, or idea through careful thought.
Means to come up with an idea or plan after thinking. Focuses on the result of thinking.
I thought out a new method.
To polish or refine a plan or idea through careful thought. Often used for strategies or creative works.
To ponder or rack one's brains to devise a plan. Slightly literary.
He is thinking out a solution.
To verbalize one's thought process in order to work through a problem.
Literally 'think out loud'. Used when you speak your thoughts to organize them.
When I tried thinking out loud, a good idea came to me.
Both mean 'think carefully', but じっくり考える emphasizes taking ample time and not rushing, while よく考える is more general. Use じっくり考える when you want to stress a slow, thorough process.
The English phrasal verb 'think out' does not have a single direct equivalent in Japanese. Translating it as 考え出す (think + out) is only appropriate when meaning 'devise'. For general careful thinking, use よく考える or じっくり考える.
It took time to think out the plan.