考える (かんがえる) — Japanese Vocabulary
考える (かんがえる / kangaeru): to think, consider. N4 level Japanese vocabulary.
考える — かんがえる (kangaeru)
Part of speech: verb-ru (Ichidan verb) JLPT level: N4 Reading: かんがえる (kangaeru) Meaning: to think, consider
Word Breakdown
The word 考える is composed of the kanji 考 followed by the okurigana える.
- 考 (kō / kanga-eru): This kanji represents the idea of "thought," "consideration," or "examination." It depicts an old man (老) with a cane, suggesting wisdom and the act of pondering over time.
All Readings
- 考 (Kō):
- On-yomi (音読み): コウ (kō)
- Kun-yomi (訓読み): かんが.える (kanga.eru), かんが.え (kanga.e)
- In this word: The kun-yomi かんがえる is used.
Example Sentences
| Japanese | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 少し考えます。 | すこしかんがえます。 | Sukoshi kangaemasu. | I will think about it a little. |
| 何を考えていますか。 | なにをかんがえていますか。 | Nani o kangaete imasu ka? | What are you thinking about? |
| 良い方法を考えよう。 | よいほうほうをかんがえよう。 | Yoi hōhō o kangaeyō. | Let's think of a good method. |
| 彼は深く考えた。 | かれはふかくかんがえた。 | Kare wa fukaku kangaeta. | He thought deeply. |
| 将来のことを考える。 | しょうらいのことをかんがえる。 | Shōrai no koto o kangaeru. | To think about the future. |
| 答えを考える時間が必要です。 | こたえをかんがえるじかんがひつようです。 | Kotae o kangaeru jikan ga hitsuyō desu. | I need time to think of the answer. |
| 彼は何も考えずに言った。 | かれはなにもかんがえずにいった。 | Kare wa nani mo kangaezu ni itta. | He spoke without thinking. |
| それについて、よく考えてください。 | それについて、よくかんがえてください。 | Sore ni tsuite, yoku kangaete kudasai. | Please think about that carefully. |
Conjugation Table
| Form | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Plain Present | 考える (kangaeru) | 考えない (kangaenai) |
| Plain Past | 考えた (kangaeta) | 考えなかった (kangaenakatta) |
| Polite Present | 考えます (kangaemasu) | 考えません (kangaemasen) |
| Polite Past | 考えました (kangaemashita) | 考えませんでした (kangaemasen deshita) |
| Te-form | 考えて (kangaete) | 考えなくて (kangaenakute) |
| Potential | 考えられる (kangaerareru) | 考えられない (kangaerarenai) |
| Passive | 考えられる (kangaerareru) | 考えられない (kangaerarenai) |
| Causative | 考えさせる (kangaesaseru) | 考えさせない (kangaesasenai) |
Related Words and Compounds
| Japanese | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 考え | かんがえ | kangae | thought, idea, opinion |
| 考え方 | かんがえかた | kangaekata | way of thinking |
| 思考 | しこう | shikō | thought, consideration (formal) |
| 再考 | さいこう | saikō | reconsideration |
| 参考 | さんこう | sankō | reference, consultation |
| 考慮 | こうりょ | kōryo | consideration, taking into account |
| 考案 | こうあん | kōan | plan, design, idea |
| 考古学 | こうこがく | kōkogaku | archaeology |
Common Mistakes
- ❌ 思う (omou) vs 考える (kangaeru): Beginners often swap these.
- ✓ 思う is used for spontaneous feelings, opinions, or beliefs ("I think it's raining").
- ✓ 考える is used for logical, deliberate mental processes ("I am thinking about which car to buy").
- ❌ 考える used for "remembering":
- ✓ Use 思い出す (omoidasu) to mean "to recall/remember." 考える does not mean to retrieve a memory.
In Context — Mini Dialogue
A: 来週の旅行、どこに行くか決めた？ (Raishū no ryokō, doko ni iku ka kimeta?) Have you decided where to go for next week's trip?
B: うーん、まだ考えているところだよ。 (Ūn, mada kangaete iru tokoro da yo.) Hmm, I'm still thinking about it.
A: 北海道はどう？ (Hokkaidō wa dō?) How about Hokkaido?
B: それもいい案だね。考えてみるよ。 (Sore mo ii an da ne. Kangaete miru yo.) That's a good idea. I'll consider it.
Usage Notes
考える implies a process of logic, analysis, or deliberation. Unlike 思う (omou), which is often an immediate reaction or a subjective feeling, 考える suggests that the speaker is weighing options, analyzing facts, or planning for the future. It is the standard verb to use when you are "working through" a problem in your head.
In Japanese culture, 考える is often used to show that you are taking someone's request seriously. If someone asks you for a favor and you say "考えておきます" (kangaete okimasu — "I will think about it"), it is a polite way of acknowledging the request without committing to a "yes" immediately. It is a common social buffer used to avoid a blunt "no."