Pretty sure I've mostly seen idea as アイデア

Does anyone know of other words used for 'idea' and if possible any example
sentences and contexts where different words are used?
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words loanwords
What is the most common word used for 'idea'?
Use **アイディア** (or アイデア) when it's replaceable with _resolution_ , _suggestion_
, etc. If you really want to avoid loanwords, you can use "(良い)考え".

> What shall we do? Do you have any _idea_?  
>  何しよう? 何か **アイディア** ある?
>
> An _idea_ is something that solves multiple problems at once. -- Shigeru
> Miyamoto  
>  [**アイデア**
> というのは複数の問題を一気に解決するものである](http://www.1101.com/iwata/2007-08-31.html) -- 宮本茂

Use **概念【がいねん】** (or 考え方) when it's replaceable with _concept_ , _way of
understanding it_ , etc. コンセプト may also be a good translation, I think.

> The basic _idea_ of Darwin's theory of evolution is that all species of
> organisms arise and develop through the natural selection ...  
>  ダーウィンの進化論の基本的な **考え方/概念/コンセプト** は、すべての生物種は自然淘汰を経て発生・発達し…

Use **イデア** when it refers to the [Plato's
theory](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_Forms).

> According to the theory of _Ideas_ , non-material abstract forms (or _ideas_
> ), and not the material world of change known to us through sensation,
> possess the highest and most fundamental kind of reality.  
>  **イデア** 論によれば、我々が感覚を通じて知っている変化する物質世界ではなく、非物質的・抽象的な形式、すなわち **イデア**
> が、最も重要かつ基礎的な実在である。

'Idea' in a sentence like this is very difficult to translate using a noun:

> Do you have any _idea_ what I am talking about?  
>  私が何を言っているのか **分かる** か? (or **理解している** か?)
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