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)
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 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
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 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. That makes the nuance easier to remember than a one-word translation.
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.
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.
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 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. If the meaning or tone changes, explain that difference in your own words.
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
Keep your first sentences simple. Once the structure feels natural, add more context so the nuance becomes clear.
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 mean in Japanese?
思いをする means “to think; to feel ~” in Japanese. It is an N1 grammar point, and this lesson explains its formation, nuance, example sentences, common mistakes, and similar grammar.
Is 思いをする on the JLPT?
思いをする 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 思いをする?
Read several example sentences, identify the form before and after 思いをする, then make your own short sentences and compare it with nearby grammar points.