72976
>
> 和菓子は季節とともに変化するもの。パッと見て何を模したかわかる形もあれば、どんな意味が込められているのか考えるものもあり……。([source](https://39mag.benesse.ne.jp/lifestyle/content/?id=56810))

As I understand it, the last clause is supposed to mean "there are ones (i.e.
certain 和菓子) that make you ponder about what kind of meaning they have been
imbued with". However, the phrase 考えるもの suggests that it is the 和菓子 that does
the pondering. There are hence two possibilities:

  1. This is informal, poor use of the language.
  2. This is a pattern of the language that I have not been aware of.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-07T11:53:56.670
72966
2022-03-10T07:40:02.047
2022-03-10T07:40:02.047
30454
32979
question
grammar meaning syntax relative-clauses ambiguity
The exquisite depths of 和菓子's mind
Your translation is 100% spot on.

However, this usage of 考える is neither colloquial nor poor use of the language.

Following your same logic, パッと見て何を模したかわかる形 would imply that the 形 is the thing
doing the looking and the understanding, but we know that to not be the case.
We know that the thing doing the looking and understanding is a general
person, the ['generic you' or 'generic
we'](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378216600000527).

I feel your confusion arises from the fact that the subject of 考える is not
explicitly stated, but as long as all parties are aware that a certain subject
is in the universe of discourse, it is possible to abbreviate it. Certain
things like "I" and "you" are always in the universe of discourse, and because
"you" refers to anyone who may be reading the article, it takes on the meaning
of 'generic you'.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-07T23:03:09.723
72971
2019-11-07T23:03:09.723
35632
72966
answer
Your translation is correct, and どんな意味が込められているのか考えるもの(=形) is a completely
natural Japanese phrase at the same time. Grammatically speaking, I think this
is something called a _gapless relative clause_ explained
[here](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/14541/5010). Other similar
examples include:

  * 英語を学ぶ楽しみ the joy of learning English (not "the joy which is learning English")
  * カエルが水に飛び込む音 the sound of a frog jumping into water
  * よく笑う性格 jovial character
  * 彼が考えた結果 the result of his thoughts / his conclusion

Also related: [Does 考えさせられる小説 make
sense?](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/61710/5010)

* * *

**EDIT:** As pointed by broccoli forest, this may not be a gap-less clause
because 込める can take に (e.g., 星の形に意味を込める "to put a meaning in the star
shape").
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-08T02:29:49.223
72976
2019-11-12T04:02:02.637
2019-11-12T04:02:02.637
5010
5010
72966
answer