思おもいつく

お

も

い

つ

く

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb, intransitive verb

think of; come up with; hit upon

Used when an idea, plan, or solution suddenly or naturally comes to mind. Often implies a spontaneous or creative mental process.

いいアイデアを思おもいついた。
I came up with a good idea.
何なにかいい方ほう法ほうを思おもいついたら教おしえて

ください

。

If you think of a good method, please let me know.

2

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb, intransitive verb

remember; recall

Less common than sense 1; used when a memory or fact suddenly comes to mind, often in the context of trying to recollect something.

彼かれの名な前まえがどうしても思おもいつかない。
I just can't remember his name.

Written forms

思おもいつくUsage94%
Standard modern spelling; the kanji 思 conveys the mental aspect clearly.
思おもい付つくUsage5%
Alternate kanji form using 付; slightly more formal or literary feel, but still common.
おもいつくUsage2%

Kanji

思think
付adhere, attach, refer to

Similar words

考かんがえ出だす
考え出す implies a more deliberate, logical process of thinking something out, whereas 思いつく is often spontaneous.
思おもい出だす
思い出す is the standard verb for 'remember/recall' and is more common than sense 2 of 思いつく, which has a nuance of something coming to mind unexpectedly.

Etymology

Compound of 思う (to think) and 付く (to attach, to come to). The combination yields the sense of an idea 'attaching' itself to one's mind, i.e., occurring to one.