思いをする 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, 思いをする is a useful pattern to learn because it adds natural precision to your Japanese.
What does 思いをする mean?
Use 思いをする 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)
How to form 思いをする
The core is 思い（おもい） (feeling, thought) + をする. The word before 思い describes the nature of the feeling. The adjective or noun that modifies 思い can be an i-adjective, na-adjective, or noun + の.
You can also use a noun with の:
Common adjectives used with 思いをする include:
- つらい（辛い） — painful, tough
- 恥ずかしい（はずかしい） — embarrassing
- うれしい（嬉しい） — happy
- 悲しい（かなしい） — sad
- 怖い（こわい） — frightening
- 奇妙な（きみょうな） — strange
- 不快な（ふかいな） — unpleasant
When is 思いをする used?
Use 思いをする 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
思いをする example sentences
After reading each sentence, ask what job 思いをする is doing: it frames the emotion as an experience someone goes through, not just a momentary sensation.
Nuance of 思いをする
The key nuance is experiencing a feeling as a state that you live through, often with a heavy or lingering quality.
For example:
- つらい思いをする implies you endured the pain for a while, not just that something was painful.
- Compared with plain adjectives like つらい, 思いをする adds a layer of narrative distance and subjective immersion.
思いをする vs 感じる
Both 思いをする and 感じる can express feeling something, but they are different.
Common mistakes with 思いをする
A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with 思いをする, then rewrite it with 感じる.
Is 思いをする on the JLPT?
Yes. 思いをする is commonly taught as JLPT N1 grammar.
That means learners should be able to:
- recognize it in reading
- understand its nuance in context
- use it in simple original sentences
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.
Practice questions for 思いをする
Learning path for 思いをする
Related grammar to review next
- おりに — because it also sets a specific occasion where a feeling or experience occurs, often in formal narrative.
- を前提として — because it frames an assumption that can lead to an emotional outcome, pairing naturally with 思いをする when expectations clash.
- およそ — because it introduces approximations, and overestimating can lead to つらい思い.
- をよそに — because it contrasts a person’s emotional experience with an indifferent outside world, often producing 思いをする moments.
Learn 思いをする with Hane
If you want to review 思いをする together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
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FAQ about 思いをする
What does 思いをする (omoi o suru) mean in Japanese?
思いをする (omoi o suru) means “to think; to feel”. It is JLPT N1 grammar. Use 思いをする 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.
How do you form 思いをする (omoi o suru)?
The core is 思い（おもい） (feeling, thought) + をする. The word before 思い describes the nature of the feeling. The adjective or noun that modifies 思い can be an i-adjective, na-adjective, or noun + の.
What is the difference between 思いをする and 感じる?
思いをする: experiencing an emotional state as a whole. 感じる: direct sensation or perception.
What is an example sentence with 思いをする (omoi o suru)?
初めて一人で海外に行ったとき、心細い思いをした。 — When I went abroad alone for the first time, I felt very anxious.