Structure Legend
Structure
Verb + と思う(1)
[い]Adjective + と思う(1)
[な]Adjective + だ + と思う(1)
Noun + だ + と思う(1)
(1) と思っている
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About とおもう
To express that you 'think' something in Japanese, the common expression と思う is regularly used. As you can probably guess, this is just a combination of the particle と, plus the う-Verb 思う. 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、ちょっと遅れると思う。Sorry, I think I'm going to be a little late.
- その言い方は酷いと思うよ。I think the way you said that was harsh.
- 俺はあの人が綺麗だと思う。I think that person looks pretty.
- これはフランス語だと思う。I think this is French.
- 私は日本が安全と思う。I think Japan is safe. (Ungrammatical Japanese, but quite common)
Caution
If you want to express what somebody else is thinking, と思っている will be used. This is due to と思う having a sense of 'permanence', and thus not something that the speaker could know about another person. と思っている can also be used to express your own thoughts when they are currently happening.- ジェームスは自分が賢いと思っている。James thinks he is smart.
- 来年に新しいオートバイを買いたいと思っている。I am thinking that I want to buy a new motorcycle next year.
Synonyms
Examples
明日は、映画を見に行くと思う。
I think I will go see a movie tomorrow.
このズボンはいいと思います。
I think these pants are good.
あの店に行ったことがあると思う。
I think that I have been to that store before.
今日、雨が降ると思った。
I thought that it was going to rain today.
このスーツ、君に似合うと思う。
I think this suit looks good on you.
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とおもう – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (3 in total)
jprspereira
About 5 years ago
Maybe worth mentioning だと when na adjective/noun (infinitive form)
mrnoone
About 5 years ago
Great idea!
pasi
About 3 years ago
I keep getting "そう____” (I think so) wrong. Why is "思います” an accepted answer (without the initial と) Why do I need だ if I include と?そう is a na adjective?
Edit: okay I seem to have mistyped it a number of times. I think the answer is correct (with だ … although I’m still a little unsure why it’s needed)
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