Learn how to express your thoughts, plans, and intentions using the grammar patterns と思う (to think) and と言う (to say).
Context
Sharing your thoughts
In daily conversation, you often need to share your opinions or relay what you intend to do. Whether you are telling a friend about your weekend plans or reporting what someone else said, Japanese uses specific structures to connect your thoughts to your speech.
Imagine you are planning a trip to Kyoto. You tell your friend, 'I think I will go to Kyoto next week.' Later, your friend asks what your teacher said about the exam, and you need to report that information accurately. These patterns allow you to express these internal thoughts and external communications clearly.
Explanation
The Grammar of Thought and Speech
To express what you think or what you have said, you use the particle と (to) as a quotation marker, followed by the verbs 思う (to think) or 言う (to say).
Sentence (Plain Form)と思う / 言う
The particle と acts like quotation marks. Everything that comes before と is considered the content of your thought or statement. It is important to use the plain form (dictionary form) of the verb or adjective before と.
Tip
When using と思う, the verb before it should be in the plain form. For example, instead of '行きますと思います', you must say '行くと思います'.
Examples
Seeing it in action
Here are common ways to use these structures in everyday life.
Hint: Use the particle that marks the content of the thought.
I think I will go to Japan.
Usage
Nuance and Register
Understanding when to use these forms helps you sound more natural.
Using と思う is a common way to soften an opinion. In Japanese culture, stating something as a hard fact can sometimes sound too direct or aggressive. Adding と思う makes your statement sound like a personal opinion rather than an absolute truth.
Which sentence sounds more like a personal opinion and less like an absolute fact?
日本はいいです。
✓ 日本はいいと思います。
Adding と思います softens the statement, framing it as your personal perspective.
Deep dive
Advanced usage: Quotations
You can also use these structures for direct quotes.
Direct vs Indirect Quotes
While we usually use plain forms for indirect speech, you can also use direct quotes by placing the exact words inside quotes (「 」) before と言う. For example: 彼は「行きます」と言いました (He said, 'I will go').
Summary
Lesson Recap
You have learned how to use と思う to express opinions and と言う to report speech. Remember to always use the plain form before the particle と.