ものと思われる and ものと見られる mean it is believed/expected that; to think; to suppose. These are JLPT N1 Japanese grammar patterns used to express conjecture, often in formal writing or news reports. ものと思われる indicates a subjective, personal judgment, while ものと見られる signals a conclusion drawn from observable evidence.
The difference is essential: pick the wrong one and a statement can sound either too presumptuous or unnecessarily detached. Mastering both will make your written Japanese more accurate and sophisticated.
What does ものと思われる / ものと見られる mean?
Use ものと思われる when you want to express a personal conjecture — what the speaker or writer thinks is likely. It often softens an assertion in formal speeches, editorials, or polite correspondence.
Use ものと見られる when you want to present a conclusion based on external evidence — common in newspapers, economic reports, and analyses. The speaker is reporting an observation rather than stating a belief.
Natural English translations include:
- it is believed that; it is expected that; to think; to suppose; it is assumed; it is presumed
Notice how ものと思われる leans toward “I believe”, while ものと見られる leans toward “it appears from the evidence that”.
How to form ものと思われる / ものと見られる
Both patterns attach to the plain form of a verb, adjective, or noun. They follow the same conjugation rules.
The same pattern works for ものと見られる.
Examples of the pattern:
- 彼はもう出かけたものと思われる
- 景気は回復に向かうものと見られる
Be careful with the もの particle — it nominalises the preceding clause. The overall expression is equivalent to “the thing that VERB is believed.” The register is always formal; in casual conversation these feel stiff.
When is ものと思われる / ものと見られる used?
Use these patterns in situations such as:
- Formal commentary, editorials, or official statements
- News articles summarising expert opinions or evidence
- Academic or business writing when you want to distance yourself from a claim
- Softening a strong assertion without using a direct と思う
Tone and register:
- Highly formal; almost never used in spoken casual Japanese
- ものと思われる — subjective, polite, often in personal letters or formal memos
- ものと見られる — objective, evidence-based, the voice of the press
If you’re writing a report that says “sales are expected to rise,” choose ものと見られる; if you’re writing an email saying “I believe the meeting concluded successfully,” choose ものと思われる.
ものと思われる / ものと見られる example sentences
In each case, notice how the choice between 思われる and 見られる shifts the source of the judgment: personal belief versus observed trend.
Nuance of ものと思われる / ものと見られる
The key nuance lies in the source of the conjecture:
- ものと思われる — “it seems to me/us”; subjective, often used by someone in a position of authority to state an opinion without sounding overconfident. It carries a slight sense of personal responsibility for the conjecture.
- ものと見られる — “it appears from the evidence”; objective, impersonal, and common in reporting. The speaker does not take personal credit for the belief — they are merely relaying an observation.
When you use 見られる, you imply that the conclusion is drawn from data, behaviour, or visible facts. Using 思われる suggests the conclusion is based on intuition or reasoning, not necessarily on outward signs.
This nuance is vital in written Japanese: mixing them up can make a report sound like a personal diary, or a polite email sound like a news bulletin.
ものと思われる / ものと見られる vs と考えられる
Both ものと思われる／ものと見られる and と考えられる translate as “it is believed/thought.” However, they differ in flavour and use-case.
The difference is subtle: と考えられる sounds more like a rational inference with less emotional weight, while ものと思われる carries a touch of the speaker’s stance. In news writing, you would see ものと見られる to report an expectation, but rarely と考えられる because it sounds too detached from evidence.
Common mistakes with ものと思われる / ものと見られる
A good practice: if you can replace the pattern with と思う and the sentence stays natural, you probably want ものと思われる. If you would use と言われている or とみなされている, ものと見られる is a better match.
Is ものと思われる / ものと見られる on the JLPT?
Yes. Both ものと思われる and ものと見られる are solid JLPT N1 grammar items.
On the test, these patterns often appear in 読解 (reading) passages where the author's stance matters. You may also see them in 聴解 (listening) as part of news reports. Expect to need to distinguish between subjective and objective conjecture in multiple-choice questions.
Focus on the nuance: if a question offers both と思われる and と見られる, look for clues about evidence vs. personal belief. That tiny difference can be the key to the right answer.
Practice questions for ものと思われる / ものと見られる
Keep your sentences realistic. Pick contexts that naturally call for formal, written Japanese — not casual dialogue.
Learning path for ものと思われる / ものと見られる
To internalise these patterns, move step by step from form to nuance.
By the end, you’ll automatically judge when to use もの to wrap a conjecture — a skill that separates N1-level writing from intermediate guesswork.
Related grammar to review next
- ものでは — expresses “because” or a reason, also using もの to nominalise, but for explanatory contrast
- ものを — “despite the fact that,” another もの pattern that attaches to plain forms with emotional weight
- ものをとする — “to decide that; to regard as,” a formal pattern for establishing a position
- ものをとして — “as; in the capacity of,” extending the もの family into roles and standards
These four patterns build on the same formal, nominalising もの core. Understanding them together will deepen your control of high‑register Japanese.
Learn ものと思われる / ものと見られる with Hane
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FAQ about ものと思われる / ものと見られる
What does ものと思われる / ものと見られる mean in Japanese?
ものと思われる / ものと見られる means “it is believed/expected that; to think; to suppose” in Japanese. It is an N1 grammar point, and this lesson explains its formation, nuance, example sentences, common mistakes, and similar grammar.
Is ものと思われる / ものと見られる on the JLPT?
ものと思われる / ものと見られる is taught as N1 Japanese grammar in Hane's grammar lesson archive. Review it with examples, usage notes, and related N1 patterns.
How should I practice ものと思われる / ものと見られる?
Read several example sentences, identify the form before and after ものと思われる / ものと見られる, then make your own short sentences and compare it with nearby grammar points.