Components

Grammar detail: と思います(とおもいます) / と思う(とおもう)

と思います(とおもいます) / と思う(とおもう)  to think ~; I think ~; you think ~
157 words
My current mastery of this grammar point:
LOG IN to view grammar mastery data
Grammar games:
GRAMMAR MATCH
SENTENCE BUILDER
BOOST
verb plain
+
おも
います
means
to think ~; I think ~; you think ~; she thinks ~ etc.
いえ
ひがし
がわ
おも

I think the house is on the Eastern side.
きょう
今日
だいがく
大学
やす
おも
います

I think the university is closed today.
この
ちほう
地方
すてき
おも
います

I think this this is a beautiful area.
と思います is often used with the たい form to 'soften' the たい form somewhat. (It does not suggest doubt in the way that an English statement of desire preceded by 'I think' might.)
わたし
れきし
歴史
けんきゅう
研究
したい
おも
います

I'd like to study history.
Other forms:
い adjective + と思います
あたら
しい
おも
います

I think it's new.
な adjective + だ + と思います
ゆうめい
有名
おも
います

I think it's famous.
noun + だ + と思います
ここ
おも
います

I think it's here.
An interesting distinction between the English 'I don't think...' and the same sentiment expressed in Japanese is that in Japanese usually the verb, adjective or noun before と思います/と思う takes the negative form, and と思います/と思う itself remains affirmative. In other words, the English equivalent of the Japanese is 'I think ~ is not / won't etc'. For example:
まいにち
毎日
じかん
時間
べんきょう
勉強
しても
ごうかく
合格
しない
おも

Even if I study for 5 hours every day, I don't think I'll pass.
そのパーティー
かない
おも

I don't think I'll go to that party.
This is not to say 思いません or 思わない are never used, but they are far less common.
Please LOG IN for free flashcards

Kanji used in this grammar

シ   おも to think   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
カ   ケ   house   いえ    や    
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
トウ   ひがし east   
コン   キン   いま now   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ニチ   ジツ   sun; day   ひ    -か    
ダイ   タイ   おおきい big   おおいに very much   おお-    
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ガク   まな to learn   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
キュウ   やす to rest   やすまる to be rested   やすめる to suspend (use etc.)   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
チ   ジ    ground   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ホウ   かた way, direction   
シ   わたくし    わたし I, myself   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
レキ    passing of time   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
シ    history   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ケン   と to sharpen, to whet   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
キュウ   きわめる to investigate thoroughly   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
シン   あたらしい    あら    にい- new   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ユウ   ウ   あ to possess; to exist   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
メイ   ミョウ   な name   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
マイ   every, each
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ジ   とき time, occasion   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
カン   ケン   あいだ interval, between   ま space, room   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ベン    exertion   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
キョウ   ゴウ   つよ strong   つよまる to get stronger   つよめる to strengthen   しいる to compel, to force   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
ゴウ   ガッ   カッ   あ to fit, come together   あわす to match   あわせる to unite, join   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
カク   コウ    status, rank   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
コウ   ギョウ   アン   ゆ    い to go   おこな to take place   
Please LOG IN to view this kanji's mnemonic
Problem with this grammar? Question or comment? Please CONTACT US.
Kanshudo is your AI Japanese tutor, and your constant companion on the road to mastery of the Japanese language. To get started learning Japanese, just follow the study recommendations on your Dashboard. You can use Quick search (accessible using the icon at the top of every page) to look up any Japanese word, kanji or grammar point, as well as to find anything on Kanshudo quickly. For an overview, take the tour.
×