Introduction: Why Distinguish Between “Omou” and “Kangaeru”?
For learners of Japanese, the distinction between omou (思う) and kangaeru (考える) often poses a challenge. In English, both can be translated simply as think, yet in Japanese the choice of verb alters the nuance depending on context. More importantly, the difference reflects not only linguistic subtleties but also cultural patterns of how Japanese speakers perceive the heart (kokoro) and apply reason. This article examines the two verbs through literature, examples, and corpus data, to illuminate how they embody two complementary aspects of thought in Japanese.
1. The Domain of “Omou” — Emotion, Intuition, and the Movement of the Heart
思(おも)う Omou conveys impressions or feelings that arise naturally in the mind. It emphasizes the subjective, the emotional, and the instantaneous.
Examples:
- 「母(はは)を思(おも)うと涙(なみだ)が出(で)る。」 (When I think of my mother, tears come to my eyes. — from a novel)
- 「子供(こども)の頃(ころ)を思(おも)うと懐(なつ)かしい気持(きも)ちになる。」 (When I think of my childhood, I feel nostalgic. — magazine article)
- 「彼(かれ)は優(やさ)しいと思(おも)う。」 (I think he is kind. — newspaper)
- 「明日(あした)は晴(は)れると思(おも)う。」 (I think it will be sunny tomorrow. — blog)
These examples show that omou is emotional and subjective, well-suited for expressing fleeting judgments or impressions. In conversation, forms like “...to omoimasu” soften statements, allowing the speaker to voice opinions in a modest or polite way. The heavy reliance on this verb in everyday speech reflects a cultural tendency in Japanese to avoid blunt assertions and to maintain harmony.
2. The Domain of “Kangaeru” — Logic, Planning, and Deliberation
考(かんが)える Kangaeru, on the other hand, represents deliberate and logical thought. It denotes the act of analyzing a problem, weighing options, and drawing conclusions.
Examples:
- 「将来(しょうらい)の進路(しんろ)について真剣(しんけん)に考(かんが)えている。」 (I am seriously thinking about my future path. — essay)
- 「効率的(こうりつてき)な方法(ほうほう)を考(かんが)えてみましょう。」 (Let’s think of an efficient method. — textbook)
- 「環境(かんきょう)問題(もんだい)をどう解決(かいけつ)すべきか考(かんが)える必要(ひつよう)がある。」 (We need to consider how to solve environmental problems. — academic book)
- 「この仮説(かせつ)は妥当(だとう)だと考(かんが)えられる。」 (This hypothesis can be considered valid. — academic article)
Kangaeru presupposes continuity: 「しばらく考(かんが)える」 (to think for a while), 「一晩(ひとばん)考(かんが)えた」 (thought about it for a whole night). It often appears in business writing and academic texts, where objectivity and logical reasoning are valued. Thus, the verb functions not only as a linguistic choice but also as a marker of rational, responsible thought.
3. Blurred Boundaries: Shifting Nuances
The line between omou and kangaeru is not always clear-cut. The same subject may take on different shades depending on which verb is chosen.
Examples:
- 「子供(こども)の将来(しょうらい)を思(おも)う」 → emotional, filled with affection or concern.
- 「子供(こども)の将来(しょうらい)を考(かんが)える」 → analytical, focused on education or financial planning.
- 「彼(かれ)のことを思(おも)う」 → romantic longing or nostalgic sentiment.
- 「彼(かれ)のことを考(かんが)える」 → reflective consideration of personality or relationship.
- 「戦争(せんそう)のことを思(おも)う」 → poetic, literary, emotionally evocative.
- 「戦争(せんそう)のことを考(かんが)える」 → social, political, and analytical perspective.
Thus, the choice of verb reframes the target, changing the angle from which it is perceived.
4. Pragmatic Aspects
Everyday Speech and “Omou”
In conversation, omou overwhelmingly dominates. Phrases like 「〜だと思(おも)うんだけど」 or 「〜だと思(おも)うよね」 function as hedges, softening the force of a statement. Among younger speakers, 「〜と思(おも)うし」 is frequently used to adjust rhythm and tone in casual dialogue.
Formal Writing and “Kangaeru”
In contrast, kangaeru is favored in business and academic contexts. Expressions such as 「弊社(へいしゃ)では〜と考(かんが)えております」 (Our company considers...) or 「〜と考(かんが)えられる」 (it can be considered...) signal responsibility and objectivity. Such phrases strengthen the authority and persuasiveness of texts, distinguishing them from the subjectivity implied by omou.
5. Insights from Corpus Data
Frequency Comparison
Data from the Balanced Corpus of Contemporary Written Japanese (BCCWJ) and Chūnagon show that overall omou appears far more frequently than kangaeru. In one study, omou recorded nearly 200,000 instances compared to around 85,000 for kangaeru. However, when the verb takes an explicit object marked by -o (e.g., 「問題(もんだい)を考(かんが)える」 — to think about a problem), kangaeru surpasses omou. This suggests that when the object is concrete and requires deliberate consideration, kangaeru is chosen more often.
Example Tendencies
- 「明日(あした)は雨(あめ)だと思(おも)う。」 (I think it will rain tomorrow. — blogs, conversation)
- 「解決(かいけつ)方法(ほうほう)を考(かんが)える必要(ひつよう)がある。」 (It is necessary to consider solutions. — academic, newspaper)
- 「母(はは)を思(おも)うと胸(むね)が熱(あつ)くなる。」 (Thinking of my mother makes my heart ache. — novel)
- 「将来(しょうらい)の生活(せいかつ)を考(かんが)えると、不安(ふあん)になる。」 (When I think about my future life, I feel anxious. — magazine)
Corpus evidence supports the general pattern: omou appears with emotions, impressions, and predictions, while kangaeru appears with problem-solving, logic, and planning.
6. Comparison with English
In English, think covers both senses, but in Japanese a distinction must be drawn:
- Omou = think, feel, suppose, guess, believe
- Kangaeru = think about, consider, deliberate, reflect
Examples:
- I think he is kind. → 「彼(かれ)は優(やさ)しいと思(おも)う。」
- I am considering my future. → 「将来(しょうらい)を考(かんが)えている。」
This shows that Japanese separates “emotional impression” from “rational process” through distinct verbs, highlighting nuances that English leaves implicit.
7. Cultural Background
The distribution of these verbs reflects broader cultural values. In contexts where emotion, empathy, and harmony are emphasized, omou predominates. In contexts demanding rationality, planning, or accountability, kangaeru is preferred.
In classical literature, omou (written as 思ふ) abounds, expressing longing, sentiment, and the movements of the heart in waka and monogatari. In contrast, in modern philosophy and academic writing, kangaeru gains prominence, aligning with rationalism and analytic discourse. The lexical choice mirrors the intellectual climate of the era.
Final Thoughts
Omou and kangaeru are not interchangeable synonyms. Rather, they symbolize two complementary dimensions of Japanese thought:
- Omou = emotion, intuition, subjective judgment.
- Kangaeru = logic, planning, sustained deliberation.
Corpus evidence confirms that omou dominates in conversation and literature, while kangaeru prevails in business and academic writing. Recognizing the difference not only sharpens expressive accuracy but also offers insight into the Japanese way of balancing heart and reason.