Welcome to Day 66 of your 100-day JLPT N5 challenge! You are steadily building the foundation of everyday Japanese, and today’s grammar point, とおもう, is essential for expressing your thoughts and opinions.
In English, we often say, “I think that…” when sharing our opinion or prediction. In Japanese, とおもう serves this same function. Using it correctly will help you:
- Express your personal thoughts politely.
- Participate naturally in conversations.
- Sound like a confident Japanese speaker even at the beginner level.
Mastering とおもう also prepares you for simple JLPT N5 reading and listening comprehension, since it frequently appears in everyday sentences.
Main Lesson: Understanding とおもう
Meaning
とおもう literally means “I think that…”. It is used to express your opinion, belief, or thought about something.
Example:
あした は あめ が ふる と おもいます。
I think it will rain tomorrow.
Structure
Basic Structure:
- [Verb / Adjective / Noun] + と おもう → casual
- [Verb / Adjective / Noun] + と おもいます → polite
Example:
いく と おもう (casual)
いく と おもいます (polite)
→ I think I will go
い-adjective + とおもう
Example:
おもしろい と おもう
→ I think it’s interesting
な-adjective / Noun + だ + とおもう
Example:
しずか だ と おもう
→ I think it’s quiet
がくせいだとおもう
→ I think he/she is a student
Vocabulary List
| Words | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| さらいねん | sarainen | year after next |
| さいふ | saifu | purse; wallet |
| て | te | hand; arm |
| でぐち | deguchi | exit; gateway; way out |
| しょくどう | shokudou | cafeteria; dining room |
| けっこん | kekkon | marriage |
| わすれる | wasureru | to forget |
Example Sentence
さらいねん、にほん に いく と おもいます。
I think I will go to Japan the year after next.
さいふ を わすれた と おもう。
I think I forgot my wallet.
でぐち は ちかく に ある と おもいます。
I think the exit is nearby.
しょくどう は にぎやか だ と おもう。
I think the cafeteria is busy.
わたし は かれら が けっこん する と おもいます。
I think they will get married.
て を あらった と おもう。
I think I washed my hands.
Conclusion
Mastering とおもう lets you express thoughts, predictions, and opinions naturally in Japanese. Using it daily will help you communicate confidently and prepare you for JLPT N5 listening and reading exercises.
Practice by sharing your thoughts every day:
- このほんはおもしろいとおもいます。 → I think this book is interesting.
- かれはにほんにいくとおもいます。 → I think he will go to Japan.
Consistency is key. Speak, write, and think in Japanese every day to make your N5 goal a reality.
