N4 Appearance & Hearsay

~と思おもう: meaning, usage and examples

~と思おもう means: I think…

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 明日あしたは雨あめが降ふると思おもいます。

   I think it will rain tomorrow.

2. 彼かれはもう帰かえったと思おもいます。

   I think he already went home.

3. この映画えいがはとてもおもしろいと思おもいます。

   I think this movie is very interesting.

4. 田中たなかさんはもうすぐ来くると思おもいます。

   I think Mr. Tanaka will be here soon.

When to use it

と思おもう means "I think that". Use it to give your opinion or a guess about the future: この映画えいがはおもしろいと思おもいます. With the volitional form it shows a plan or intention: 来年らいねん日本にほんに行いこうと思おもいます (I am thinking of going to Japan next year). It softens statements and is very common in polite conversation.

Nuance

と思おもう on its own is about the speaker's thought. For other people, use と思おもっている: 田中たなかさんは無理むりだと思おもっています. Use と思おもっています for yourself too when the thought has continued for some time. Nouns and な-adjectives need だ before と.

Compare

と思おもう vs かもしれない: と思おもう gives your own opinion with some confidence; かもしれない only says something is possible. と思おもう vs でしょう: でしょう is a guess about facts and sounds more distant. ようと思おもう vs つもりだ: ようと思おもう is a plan you are considering; つもり is a firmer decision.

Tip: Do not forget だ with nouns and な-adjectives: 学生がくせいだと思おもいます, 静しずかだと思おもいます. Without it, the sentence sounds incomplete.