9934
These two words both seem to mean "to think", but is there any difference
between them? Is it related to the difference between 言う and 話す by any chance?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-01-08T14:58:39.110
9933
2013-01-08T16:40:47.490
1497
question
words verbs word-choice
What's the difference between 思う and 考える?
I'll base my answer around [this Japanese thesaurus
entry](http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/leaf/thsrs/3137/m0u/%E3%81%8A%E3%82%82%E3%81%86/)
which discusses the difference between `思う` and `考える`.

`思う` is more subjective or emotional - for example: worries, hopes, affection,
supposition/imagination (as in 'It wasn't as big as I had imagined (thought)
it would be') etc.

`考える` is for more objective and logical thought.

At the bottom of the thesaurus page I linked there is a table which shows
various sentences and whether or not `思う` and `考える` could be used in them (a ◯
in the box means it can be used).

Let's take a look at some examples from the table:

> おいしいと思う  
>  'I think it tastes good'

In this is case `思う` is used because it is your own subjective opinion.

> なぜ失敗したのか考える  
>  'think about why (I) failed'

This time it is `考える` because you are trying to logically think through why
you failed.

> 日本の将来を思う／考える  
>  'think about the future of Japan'

In this example it is OK to use either. Without further context it's hard to
say for sure, but `思う` here could indicate a subjective concern for the the
future of Japan, whereas with `考える` the speaker might simply be thinking
through how Japan is going to be in the future.

EDIT: I forgot you had mentioned `言う` and `話す`. The difference with those two
is like 'saying something' v.s. 'talking _to/with_ somebody'. Not related, I
would say, to `思う` and `考える`.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-01-08T16:11:27.723
9934
2013-01-08T16:40:47.490
2013-01-08T16:40:47.490
3010
3010
9933
answer