考える
かんがえる
kangaeru
= to think / to consider / to reflect on
Kangaeru is the Japanese verb for deliberate, effortful thinking — the kind you do when weighing a decision, solving a problem, or reflecting on something carefully. It sits in a cluster of Japanese thinking verbs alongside omou (to feel/think spontaneously) and shiru (to know), and understanding the differences between them reveals how Japanese categorizes the landscape of the mind.
Kangaeru (考える) is a transitive ru-verb meaning ‘to think,’ ‘to consider,’ ‘to reflect on,’ or ‘to figure out.’ It implies active, deliberate cognitive effort — thinking something through as opposed to the more spontaneous or emotional 思う (omou, to think/feel). Common uses: よく考える (yoku kangaeru, to think carefully), 考え直す (kangae-naosu, to reconsider), 考えすぎる (kangae-sugiru, to overthink), 一人で考える (hitori de kangaeru, to think alone). The noun form is 考え (kangae, thought/idea/thinking) and 考え方 (kangaekata, way of thinking / perspective).
The distinction between 考える (kangaeru, deliberate thought) and 思う (omou, spontaneous feeling/thought) is important for natural Japanese. dou omou? (dou omou? — ‘What do you think/feel?’) asks for a spontaneous opinion or reaction. dou kangaeru? (dou kangaeru? — ‘What do you think after consideration?’) asks for a more measured, deliberated response. In professional and educational contexts, 考える is preferred: よく考えてから決めましょう (yoku kangaete kara kimemashou — ‘Let’s decide after thinking it through carefully’).
考える uses the kanji 考 (kou/kanga, think/consider), which contains 耂 (old person) over 巧 (skillful/craft) — suggesting the thoughtful deliberation of an elder. 考 appears in 考察 (kousatsu, consideration/examination), 考案 (kouan, plan/devise), 参考 (sankou, reference/consultation), and 思考 (shikou, thought/thinking — a more formal compound pairing 思 and 考). The character emphasizes structured, purposeful reflection.
Everyday use
どうすればいいか、もう少し考えさせてください。
Dou sureba ii ka, mou sukoshi kangaesasete kudasai.
Please let me think a little more about what the best course of action is.
Casual / Social Media
考えすぎてもキリがないよ。まず動いてみよう！
Kangae sugite mo kiri ga nai yo. Mazu ugoite miyou!
There’s no end to overthinking. Let’s just try moving first!
Formal / Cultural context
この問題については、多角的な視点から考える必要があります。
Kono mondai ni tsuite wa, takakuteki na shiten kara kangaeru hitsuyou ga arimasu.
This issue needs to be considered from multiple perspectives.
The cultural weight of 考える in Japanese education is significant. One of the key objectives in Japanese primary and secondary education reform (particularly since the 2000s) has been to develop 考える力 (kangaeru chikara, the power/ability to think) — the capacity for critical thinking and independent reasoning, rather than rote memorization. This emphasis reflects a recognized tension between Japan’s traditional strength in knowledge acquisition and the need for creative, analytical problem-solving in modern professional contexts. Educational slogans like 自分で考える (jibun de kangaeru, think for yourself) appear in classroom settings nationwide.
The compound 考え方 (kangaekata, way of thinking / perspective / mindset) is one of the most frequently used words in Japanese interpersonal communication and self-reflection. Discussing one’s 考え方 — or trying to understand another person’s 考え方 — is a primary mode of communication in Japanese relationship contexts, therapy settings, and organizational development. The phrase 考え方を変える (kangaekata wo kaeru, to change one’s way of thinking) appears in self-help literature, life coaching, and motivational contexts as the fundamental unit of personal transformation.