# と思う: I think that > Learn how to use と思う, a JLPT N4 Japanese grammar point meaning I think that, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons. JLPT level: N4 · Updated: 2026-05-17 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n4-to-omou/ **と思う** means **I think that**. It is a **JLPT N4** Japanese grammar pattern used to state a personal opinion or belief. You will see it constantly in conversation, textbooks, and the JLPT N4 test. Learning it early makes your Japanese sound more natural when you want to share what you believe or expect. ## What does と思う mean? Use **と思う** when you want to express **I think that** in a Japanese sentence. Natural translations include: - I think that - I believe that - It seems to me that The best translation depends on the sentence. Try to notice the speaker's purpose first, then choose the English phrase that fits that context. ## How to form と思う と思う attaches to the **plain form** of whatever you are thinking.
Plain form + と思う
In polite speech, 思う becomes **思います**. Common shapes from the example sentences: - 雨あめだと思います - 面白おもしろいと思います - 来こないと思います ## When is と思う used? Use **と思う** in situations like: - reading or writing JLPT N4-level sentences - making a sentence more precise than a basic N5 pattern - recognizing natural grammar in conversation or short passages Tone and register: - neutral; usable in both casual and polite conversation - extremely common in JLPT N4 grammar study and everyday Japanese ## と思う example sentences
明日あしたは雨あめだと思おもいます。
I think it will rain tomorrow.
noun + だ
この本ほんは面白おもしろいと思おもいます。
I think this book is interesting.
い-adjective
田中たなかさんは来こないと思おもいます。
I think Tanaka will not come.
verb plain negative
もっと練習れんしゅうしたほうがいいと思おもいます。
I think you should practice more.
embedded advice
日本語にほんごは楽たのしいと思おもいます。
I think Japanese is fun.
い-adjective
After reading each sentence, ask what job **と思う** is doing: it wraps the speaker's inner thought and presents it as a personal belief. ## Nuance of と思う The key nuance is that **と思う** quotes your own thought. It turns a statement into a personal belief rather than an objective fact. This matters because learners often translate advanced grammar too literally. A pattern may look simple, but it signals that the speaker is offering an opinion, not declaring a certainty. For example, saying 雨あめだ implies certainty. Saying 雨あめだと思おもう softens it into a personal expectation. The difference is social, not just grammatical: you are marking the boundary between fact and belief. ## と思う vs でしょう Both **と思う** and **でしょう** can express uncertainty, but they do different jobs.
と思う
Personal belief
Use when you want to say "I think..."
明日あしたは雨あめだと思おもいます。
I think it will rain tomorrow.
vs
でしょう
Conjecture or expectation
Use when you expect something is likely, often shared knowledge
明日あしたは雨あめでしょう。
It will probably rain tomorrow.
If both translations seem possible, check the tone. Is the speaker stating a private opinion, or making a guess based on evidence? **と思う** keeps the focus on the speaker's mind; **でしょう** keeps the focus on the situation. ## Common mistakes with と思う
❌
明日あしたは雨あめですと思おもいます。
✅
明日あしたは雨あめだと思おもいます。
Use the plain form before と思う, not the polite です form.
❌
雨あめだ思おもいます。
✅
雨あめだと思おもいます。
Do not drop the quoting particle と.
❌
日本語にほんごは楽たのしいでしょう。（when you mean "I think Japanese is fun"）
✅
日本語にほんごは楽たのしいと思おもいます。
でしょう is for conjecture or shared expectation, not for stating a personal belief.
## Is と思う on the JLPT?
N4

Yes. と思う is commonly taught as JLPT N4 grammar.

  • Recognize it in reading and listening
  • Understand the difference between a stated fact and a quoted thought
  • 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 と思う
1 Write one short sentence using the basic structure: [plain form] + と思います. formation
2 Replace the subject, time, or object and keep the same grammar point. variation
3 Compare your sentence with でしょう. Does the meaning or tone change? contrast
Keep your first sentences simple. Once the structure feels natural, add more context so the nuance becomes clear. ## Learning path for と思う Use **と思う** as part of your **JLPT N4** quotation, thought, and definition grammar toolkit. Practice the quoted or defined content before **と思う**. These patterns depend on where the thought, question, name, or explanation begins and ends, so sentence boundaries matter more than a single English gloss.
1
First, make sure you can form と思う without looking at the pattern chart.
2
Next, compare it with でしょう. Choosing between them helps you understand the nuance of personal belief versus conjecture.
3
Then, write a sentence with と思う in its most literal meaning, change the subject or time expression, and check if the thought boundary is clear.
4
Finally, add という or ということ to see how the nuance of quoting changes.
## Related grammar to review next - [という](/blog/n4-to-iu/) — builds control over quoted thoughts, questions, names, and explanations. - [ということ](/blog/n4-to-iu-koto/) — builds control over quoted thoughts, questions, names, and explanations. - [かどうか](/blog/n4-ka-dou-ka/) — builds control over quoted thoughts, questions, names, and explanations. - [かな](/blog/n4-kana/) — builds control over quoted thoughts, questions, names, and explanations. ## Learn と思う with Hane If you want to review **と思う** together with the related patterns above, [Hane](/) helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions. Browse more lessons here: - [All grammar lessons](/blog/) - [JLPT N4 grammar lessons](/blog/n4/)