Kangaeru is the Japanese verb for ‘to think deeply’, explained

What does “kangaeru” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “kangaeru” to mean ‘to think deeply’, ‘to think logically’, or just ‘to think’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this verb as it is sometimes used in Japanese textbooks. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “kangaeru” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “kangaeru”
  • Example #1: how to say “think” in Japanese
• Kangaenai: the nai form of “kangaeru”
  • Example #2: how to say “don’t think” in Japanese
• Kangaeyou: the volitional form of “kangaeru”
  • Example #3: how to say “let’s think” in Japanese
• Kangaemasu: the masu form of “kangaeru”
  • Example #4: how to say “think” politely in Japanese
• Kangaeta: the ta form of “kangaeru”
  • Example #5: how to say “thought” in Japanese
• Kangaete: the te form of “kangaeru”
  • Example #6: how to say “please think” in Japanese
• Kangaereba: the ba form of “kangaeru”
  • Example #7: how to say “if think” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “kangaeru”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “kangaeru”.

• kangaeru – 考える (かんがえる) : a verb meaning ‘to think deeply’, ‘to think logically’, or just ‘to think’ in Japanese.

Japanese native speakers use this verb when they think about something deeply with their brains. This way of thinking differentiates this verb from the similar one, “omou”, which is suitable when an idea pops up.

The definition and meanings are not that difficult, I think. Then, let me explain how tp use this verb through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “think” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “boku” to make the subject in the sentence.
• tokidoki – 時々 (ときどき) : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘sometimes’ in Japanese.
• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
• no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “kanojo” to make its possessive case, “kanojo no”, which means ‘her’ in Japanese.
• koto – こと : a noun meaning ‘thing’ or such in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kanojo no koto” to make the object in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “kangaeru”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object. The original meaning of the Japanese sentence is more like ‘I sometimes think about her things’, but it is usually translated as “I sometimes think about her”. Anyway, when we want to mean ‘to think’ in Japanese, this verb is a good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “kangaeru” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “kangaenai”.

Kangaenai: the nai form of “kangaeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kangaenai”.

• kangaenai – 考えない (かんがえない) : the nai form of “kangaeru”, which means ‘not to think deeply’, ‘not to think logically’, or just ‘not to think’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kangaenai” consists of the following two parts:

• kangae – 考え (かんがえ) : one conjugation of “kangaeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kangaenai” is literally the nai form of “kangaeru” and means ‘not to think deeply’, ‘not to think logically’, or just ‘not to think’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “don’t think” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• shourai – 将来 (しょうらい) : a noun meaning ‘future’ in Japanese.
• no – の : a case particle used to join two nouns. Normally, the first one can work as a modifier to describe the second. In the example, this is used to join “shourai” and “koto”. The formed phrase literally means ‘the things in the future’, but has been translated as just ‘my future’ in the example.

This is a typical usage of “kangaenai”. When we want to mean ‘not to think’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Kangaeyou: the volitional form of “kangaeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kangaeyou”.

• kangaeyou – 考えよう (かんがえよう) : the volitional form of “kangaeru”, which expresses volition to think deeply or logically.

Grammatically, “kangaeyou” consists of the following two parts:

• kangae – 考え (かんがえ) : one conjugation of “kangaeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “you”.
• you – よう : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kangaeyou” is literally the volitional form of “kangaeru” and expresses volition to think deeply or logically. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “let’s think” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• issho – 一緒 (いっしょ) : a noun meaning ‘same’, ‘being together’, or such in Japanese.
• ni – に : a case particle used to say how someone does something. In the example, this is used after “issho” to mean ‘together’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “kangaeyou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s think” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.

Kangaemasu: the masu form of “kangaeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kangaemasu”.

• kangaemasu – 考えます (かんがえます) : the masu form of “kangaeru”, which means ‘to think deeply’, ‘to think logically’, or just ‘to think’ politely in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kangaemasu” consists of the following two parts:

• kangae – 考え (かんがえ) : one conjugation of “kangaeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
• masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kangaemasu” is literally the masu form of “kangaeru” and means ‘to think deeply’, ‘to think logically’, or just ‘to think’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “think” politely in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• tamani – たまに : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘occasionally’ in Japanese.
• shigoto – 仕事 (しごと) : a noun meaning ‘work’ or ‘job’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “kangaemasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “think” politely in Japanese, this form is a very good option.

Kangaeta: the ta form of “kangaeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kangaeta”.

• kangaeta – 考えた (かんがえた) : the ta form of “kangaeru”, which means ‘thought deeply’, ‘thought logically’, or just ‘thought’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kangaeta” consists of the following two parts:

• kangae – 考え (かんがえ) : one conjugation of “kangaeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kangaeta” is literally the ta form of “kangaeru” and means ‘thought deeply’, ‘thought logically’, or just ‘thought’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “thought” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “boku” to make its plural form, “boku tachi”, which means ‘we’ in Japanese.
• mo – も : a binding particle making the subject word or the object word in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘also’, ‘as well’, or ‘too’. In the example, this works after “boku tachi” to make the subject in the sentence with adding the meaning of ‘too’.

This is a typical usage of “kangaeta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “kangaeru”, this ta form is the best option.

Kangaete: the te form of “kangaeru”

Below are the definition and meanings of “kangaete”.

• kangaete – 考えて (かんがえて) : the te form of “kangaeru”, which means ‘to think deeply’, ‘to think logically’, or just ‘to think’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kangaete” consists of the following two parts:

• kangae – 考え (かんがえ) : one conjugation of “kangaeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kangaete” is literally the te form of “kangaeru”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “kangaete” is very useful when we want to use “kangaeru” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #6: how to say “please think” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “kangaete” to add the meaning of ‘please’.

This is a typical usage of “kangaete”. In this example, it has the smooth connection with “kudasai”. When we want to use “kangaeru” in front of aother verb like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Kangaereba: the ba form of “kangaeru”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “kangaereba”.

• kangaereba – 考えれば (かんがえれば) : the ba form of “kangaeru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to think deeply’, ‘to think logically’, or just ‘to think’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “kangaereba” consists of the following two parts:

• kangaere – 考えれ (かんがえれ) : one conjugation of “kangaeru”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “kangaereba” is literally the ba form of “kangaeru”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “kangaereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to think deeply’, ‘to think logically’, or just ‘to think’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #7: how to say “if think” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• seikatsuhi – 生活費 (せいかつひ) : a noun meaning ‘cost of living’ in Japanese.
• inaka – 田舎 (いなか) : a noun meaning ‘countryside’ in Japanese.
• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this works after “inaka” to make the subject in the second clause.
• osusume – おすすめ : a noun meaning ‘recommendation’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• desu – です : an auxiliary verb used after a noun or adjective to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese desu form. In the example, this works after “osusume” to make it sound polite.

This is a typical usage of “kangaereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “seikatsuhi wo kangaereba”, which means ‘if you think about the cost of living’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to think’, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “kangaeru” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• kangaeru – 考える (かんがえる) : a verb meaning ‘to think deeply’, ‘to think logically’, or just ‘to think’ in Japanese.
• kangaenai – 考えない (かんがえない) : the nai form of “kangaeru”, which means ‘not to think deeply’, ‘not to think logically’, or just ‘not to think’ in Japanese.
• kangaeyou – 考えよう (かんがえよう) : the volitional form of “kangaeru”, which expresses volition to think deeply or logically.
• kangaemasu – 考えます (かんがえます) : the masu form of “kangaeru”, which means ‘to think deeply’, ‘to think logically’, or just ‘to think’ politely in Japanese.
• kangaeta – 考えた (かんがえた) : the ta form of “kangaeru”, which means ‘thought deeply’, ‘thought logically’, or just ‘thought’ in Japanese.
• kangaete – 考えて (かんがえて) : the te form of “kangaeru”, which means ‘to think deeply’, ‘to think logically’, or just ‘to think’ in Japanese. When we want to use “kangaeru” in front of aother verb, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• kangaereba – 考えれば (かんがえれば) : the ba form of “kangaeru”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to think deeply’, ‘to think logically’, or just ‘to think’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.