# 思いをする: to think; to feel ~

> Learn how to use 思いをする, a JLPT N1 Japanese grammar point meaning to think; to feel, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.

JLPT level: N1 · Updated: 2026-05-18 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n1-omoi-o-suru/

**<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする** means **to think; to feel ~**. It is a **JLPT N1** Japanese grammar pattern used to express experiencing a particular feeling or state of mind, often one that is negative, strong, or emotionally charged.

This grammar point often appears in novels, essays, formal commentary, and JLPT N1 reading passages. If you want to express that you went through a certain emotional experience, **<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする** is a useful pattern to learn because it adds natural precision to your Japanese.

## What does <ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする mean?

Use **<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする** when you want to express that you underwent a specific feeling or emotional state, not just a passing sensation. It frames the feeling as an experience you live through.

Natural translations include:
- to feel ~; to go through a ~ experience; to have a ~ time (of it)

The best translation depends on the sentence. Try to notice the writer's or speaker's purpose first, then choose the English phrase that fits that context.

## How to form <ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする

The core is **<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>（おもい）** (feeling, thought) + **をする**. The word before <ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby> describes the nature of the feeling. The adjective or noun that modifies <ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby> can be an i-adjective, na-adjective, or noun + の.

<div class="formation">
  <span class="ftoken t-stem">つらい</span>
  <span class="fplus">+</span>
  <span class="ftoken t-core"><ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></span>
  <span class="fplus">+</span>
  <span class="ftoken t-aux">をする</span>
</div>

You can also use a noun with の:

<div class="formula"><ruby>不思議<rp>(</rp><rt>ふしぎ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby> + の + <ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする</div>

Common adjectives used with <ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする include:
- つらい（<ruby>辛い<rp>(</rp><rt>つらい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>） — painful, tough
- <ruby>恥ずかしい<rp>(</rp><rt>はずかしい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>（はずかしい） — embarrassing
- うれしい（<ruby>嬉しい<rp>(</rp><rt>うれしい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>） — happy
- <ruby>悲しい<rp>(</rp><rt>かなしい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>（かなしい） — sad
- <ruby>怖い<rp>(</rp><rt>こわい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>（こわい） — frightening
- <ruby>奇妙<rp>(</rp><rt>きみょう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>な（きみょうな） — strange
- <ruby>不快<rp>(</rp><rt>ふかい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>な（ふかいな） — unpleasant

The form before the grammar point matters. In JLPT questions, the wrong answer choices often use a similar meaning but attach it to the wrong type of word.

## When is <ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする used?

Use **<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする** in situations like:
- describing a personal emotional experience, often negative or intense
- recounting a past event with lingering emotional weight
- expressing empathy or shared suffering in a narrative tone

Tone and register:
- slightly formal to literary; common in written Japanese, personal essays, and reflective speech
- frequently found in JLPT N1 reading comprehension and listening

## <ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする example sentences

<div class="examples">

<div class="example">
  <div class="example-jp"><ruby>初めて<rp>(</rp><rt>はじめて</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby><ruby>一人<rp>(</rp><rt>ひとり</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>で<ruby>海外<rp>(</rp><rt>かいがい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に<ruby>行っ<rp>(</rp><rt>いっ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>たとき、<ruby>心細い<rp>(</rp><rt>こころぼそい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby><span class="furi">思<rt>おも</rt></span>いをした。</div>
  <div class="example-en">When I went abroad alone for the first time, I felt very anxious.</div>
  <div class="example-foot"><span class="example-tag">emotional</span> <span class="example-tag">past experience</span></div>
</div>

<div class="example">
  <div class="example-jp"><ruby>彼<rp>(</rp><rt>かれ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>に<ruby>誤解<rp>(</rp><rt>ごかい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>されて、とても<span class="furi">辛<rt>つら</rt></span>い<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をした。</div>
  <div class="example-en">I was misunderstood by him and went through a really painful experience.</div>
  <div class="example-foot"><span class="example-tag">negative</span> <span class="example-tag">relationships</span></div>
</div>

<div class="example">
  <div class="example-jp"><ruby>大勢<rp>(</rp><rt>おおぜい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>の<ruby>前<rp>(</rp><rt>まえ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>で<ruby>転ん<rp>(</rp><rt>ころん</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>で、<span class="furi">恥<rt>は</rt></span>ずかしい<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をした。</div>
  <div class="example-en">I tripped in front of a big crowd and felt terribly embarrassed.</div>
  <div class="example-foot"><span class="example-tag">embarrassment</span> <span class="example-tag">public</span></div>
</div>

<div class="example">
  <div class="example-jp"><ruby>彼女<rp>(</rp><rt>かのじょ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>は<span class="furi">奇妙<rt>きみょう</rt></span>な<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をしながら、その<ruby>話<rp>(</rp><rt>はなし</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>を<ruby>聞い<rp>(</rp><rt>きい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ていた。</div>
  <div class="example-en">She listened to the story with a strange feeling.</div>
  <div class="example-foot"><span class="example-tag">mystery</span> <span class="example-tag">observation</span></div>
</div>

<div class="example">
  <div class="example-jp"><ruby>長い間<rp>(</rp><rt>ながいあいだ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>、<span class="furi">不<rt>ふ</rt></span><span class="furi">快<rt>かい</rt></span>な<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をしなければならなかった。</div>
  <div class="example-en">For a long time, I had to put up with an unpleasant feeling.</div>
  <div class="example-foot"><span class="example-tag">endurance</span> <span class="example-tag">negative</span></div>
</div>

<div class="example">
  <div class="example-jp">こんなに<span class="furi">嬉<rt>うれ</rt></span>しい<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をしたのは<ruby>久し<rp>(</rp><rt>ひさし</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ぶりだ。</div>
  <div class="example-en">It's been a long time since I felt this happy.</div>
  <div class="example-foot"><span class="example-tag">positive</span> <span class="example-tag">rare</span></div>
</div>

</div>

After reading each sentence, ask what job **<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする** is doing: it frames the emotion as an experience someone goes through, not just a momentary sensation. That makes the nuance easier to remember than a one-word translation.

## Nuance of <ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする

The key nuance is **experiencing a feeling as a state that you live through, often with a heavy or lingering quality**.

This matters because learners often translate advanced grammar too literally. A pattern may look simple, but it can signal the writer's attitude, the scope of a rule, or the relationship between two ideas.

For example:
- つらい<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする implies you endured the pain for a while, not just that something was painful.
- Compared with plain adjectives like つらい, <ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする adds a layer of narrative distance and subjective immersion.

## <ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする vs <ruby>感じる<rp>(</rp><rt>かんじる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>

Both **<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする** and **<ruby>感じる<rp>(</rp><rt>かんじる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>** can express feeling something, but they are different.

<div class="compare">

<div class="cmp a">
  <div class="cmp-head"><ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする</div>
  <div class="cmp-sub">experiencing an emotional state as a whole</div>
  <div class="cmp-when">Used when the speaker wants to convey that they went through a feeling, often negative or complex, as an episode in their life.</div>
  <div class="cmp-eg">つらい<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をした。</div>
  <div class="cmp-eg-en">I went through a painful experience.</div>
</div>

<div class="vs">vs</div>

<div class="cmp b">
  <div class="cmp-head"><ruby>感じる<rp>(</rp><rt>かんじる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></div>
  <div class="cmp-sub">direct sensation or perception</div>
  <div class="cmp-when">Used for immediate sensory input or a passing feeling, more neutral and less "lived through".</div>
  <div class="cmp-eg"><ruby>痛み<rp>(</rp><rt>いたみ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>を<ruby>感じ<rp>(</rp><rt>かんじ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>た。</div>
  <div class="cmp-eg-en">I felt a pain.</div>
</div>

</div>

If both translations seem possible, check the tone. Is the sentence casual, formal, written, explanatory, or emotional? The tone often tells you which grammar point is natural.

## Common mistakes with <ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする

<div class="mistakes">

<div class="mistake">
  <div class="mline">
    <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
    <span class="mline-body">あの<ruby>映画<rp>(</rp><rt>えいが</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>は<ruby>怖い<rp>(</rp><rt>こわい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby><ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をした。</span>
  </div>
  <div class="note">The movie itself didn't experience the feeling; the speaker did.</div>
  <div class="mline">
    <span class="mark good">✅</span>
    <span class="mline-body">あの<ruby>映画<rp>(</rp><rt>えいが</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>を<ruby>見<rp>(</rp><rt>み</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>て、<ruby>怖い<rp>(</rp><rt>こわい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby><ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をした。</span>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="mistake">
  <div class="mline">
    <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
    <span class="mline-body">ちょっと<ruby>熱い<rp>(</rp><rt>あつい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby><ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をした。</span>
  </div>
  <div class="note"><ruby>熱い<rp>(</rp><rt>あつい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby> is not an emotion; <ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする requires an emotional or psychological state.</div>
  <div class="mline">
    <span class="mark good">✅</span>
    <span class="mline-body">ちょっと<ruby>不快<rp>(</rp><rt>ふかい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>な<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をした。</span>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="mistake">
  <div class="mline">
    <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
    <span class="mline-body"><ruby>彼<rp>(</rp><rt>かれ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>は<ruby>頭<rp>(</rp><rt>あたま</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>がいい<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする。</span>
  </div>
  <div class="note">"<ruby>頭<rp>(</rp><rt>あたま</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>がいい" is a description, not an emotional experience you undergo.</div>
  <div class="mline">
    <span class="mark good">✅</span>
    <span class="mline-body"><ruby>彼<rp>(</rp><rt>かれ</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>はいつも<ruby>賢い<rp>(</rp><rt>かしこい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>ふりをして、<ruby>嫌<rp>(</rp><rt>いや</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>な<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をさせられる。</span>
  </div>
</div>

</div>

A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with **<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする**, then rewrite it with **<ruby>感じる<rp>(</rp><rt>かんじる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>**. If the meaning or tone changes, explain that difference in your own words.

## Is <ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする on the JLPT?

<div class="jlpt-card">
  <div class="jlpt-shield">N1</div>
  <div class="jlpt-info">
    <p>Yes. <strong><ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする</strong> is commonly taught as <strong>JLPT N1</strong> grammar.</p>
    <p>That means learners should be able to:</p>
    <ul class="jlpt-checks">
      <li>recognize it in reading</li>
      <li>understand its nuance in context</li>
      <li>use it in simple original sentences</li>
    </ul>
    <p>For test preparation, study the grammar point in full sentences. JLPT questions often test whether you understand the surrounding context, not just the dictionary meaning.</p>
  </div>
</div>

## Practice questions for <ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする

<div class="prompts">

<div class="prompt">
  <span class="prompt-num">1</span>
  <span class="prompt-text">Describe a time you had a <strong>つらい<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></strong> because of a misunderstanding.</span>
  <span class="prompt-tag">personal</span>
</div>

<div class="prompt">
  <span class="prompt-num">2</span>
  <span class="prompt-text">Write a sentence where someone <strong><ruby>恥ずかしい<rp>(</rp><rt>はずかしい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby><ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をした</strong> in a social setting.</span>
  <span class="prompt-tag">embarrassment</span>
</div>

<div class="prompt">
  <span class="prompt-num">3</span>
  <span class="prompt-text">Create an example using <strong><ruby>奇妙<rp>(</rp><rt>きみょう</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>な<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></strong> to convey an eerie atmosphere.</span>
  <span class="prompt-tag">mystery</span>
</div>

<div class="prompt">
  <span class="prompt-num">4</span>
  <span class="prompt-text">Contrast <ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする and <ruby>感じる<rp>(</rp><rt>かんじる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby> by writing the same event both ways.</span>
  <span class="prompt-tag">comparison</span>
</div>

</div>

Keep your first sentences simple. Once the structure feels natural, add more context so the nuance becomes clear.

## Learning path for <ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする

<div class="path">

<div class="path-step">
  <span class="step-num">1</span>
  <div class="step-body">First, make sure you can form <strong><ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする</strong> correctly with i‑adjectives, na‑adjectives, and nouns+の.</div>
</div>

<div class="path-step">
  <span class="step-num">2</span>
  <div class="step-body">Next, compare it with <strong><ruby>感じる<rp>(</rp><rt>かんじる</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby></strong>. These patterns are close enough that choosing between them helps you understand the nuance.</div>
</div>

<div class="path-step">
  <span class="step-num">3</span>
  <div class="step-body">Read a short personal essay or diary entry in Japanese and underline every emotional expression. Check if any could be rephrased as <ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする for a deeper narrative effect.</div>
</div>

<div class="path-step">
  <span class="step-num">4</span>
  <div class="step-body">Finally, write a short paragraph about a difficult day, using <ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする at least twice. Then check whether replacing it with a plain adjective changes the story's emotional weight.</div>
</div>

</div>

## Related grammar to review next

- [おりに](/blog/n1-ori-ni/) — because it also sets a specific occasion where a feeling or experience occurs, often in formal narrative.
- [を<ruby>前提<rp>(</rp><rt>ぜんてい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>として](/blog/n1-o-zentei-toshite/) — because it frames an assumption that can lead to an emotional outcome, pairing naturally with <ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする when expectations clash.
- [およそ](/blog/n1-oyoso/) — because it introduces approximations, and overestimating can lead to つらい<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>.
- [をよそに](/blog/n1-o-yoso-ni/) — because it contrasts a person's emotional experience with an indifferent outside world, often producing <ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする moments.

## Learn <ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする with Hane

If you want to review **<ruby>思い<rp>(</rp><rt>おもい</rt><rp>)</rp></ruby>をする** together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:
- [All grammar lessons](/blog/)
- [JLPT N1 grammar lessons](/blog/n1/)