思考・判断

最終的さいしゅうてきな判断はんだんはあなたに任まかせます。

I'll leave the final decision to you.

Usage 判断 = judgment, a decision: 判断する, 判断を下す (make a call), 判断力 (judgment), 判断に迷う (be unsure what to decide). 決断 (けつだん) is a bold, decisive choice.

Remember it 判 (to judge) + 断 (to cut, decide) → judging and cutting to a decision.

問題もんだいの深刻しんこくさを正ただしく認識にんしきする必要ひつようがある。

We need to properly recognize how serious the problem is.

Usage 認識 is recognizing or understanding a situation: 認識する, 認識が甘い (underestimate), 認識不足 (lack of awareness), 顔認識 (face recognition).

Remember it 認 (to recognize) + 識 (to discern) → recognizing and discerning.

状況じょうきょうを把握はあくしてから、判断はんだんを下くだしてください。

Please get a grasp of the situation before making a decision.

Usage 把握 is getting a firm grasp of a situation: 状況を把握する, 全体を把握する, 把握しきれない (can't keep track). A key word in workplace Japanese.

Remember it 把 (to hold) + 握 (to grip) → holding it in your grip.

怒いかりで理性りせいを失うしなわないように気きをつけている。

I'm careful not to lose my reason to anger.

Usage 理性 = reason, rationality: 理性を失う (lose your head), 理性的 (rational). Its opposite is 感情 (かんじょう, emotion) or 本能 (instinct).

Remember it 理 (logic) + 性 (nature) → the logical side of your nature.

彼かれの主張しゅちょうには論理ろんりの飛躍ひやくがあります。

There's a leap in the logic of his argument.

Usage 論理 is the logic of an argument; reverse the kanji and 理論 (りろん) means a theory. 論理的 = logical, 論理的思考 = logical thinking.

Remember it 論 (argument) + 理 (reason) → the reasoning that holds an argument together.

自分じぶんの作品さくひんを客観きゃっかん的てきに見みるのは難むずかしい。

It's hard to look at your own work objectively.

Usage 客観 = objectivity, usually as 客観的 (objective): 客観的に見る, 客観的な事実. Its pair is 主観 (subjectivity). Note the small tsu: きゃっかん.

Remember it 客 (guest, outsider) + 観 (view) → the view of an outsider.

これはあくまで私わたしの主観しゅかんですが、この映画えいがは最高さいこうです。

This is just my personal opinion, but this film is the best.

Usage 主観 = subjectivity: 主観的 (subjective), 主観で判断する, 主観が入る (personal bias creeps in). Its pair is 客観.

Remember it 主 (the self, main) + 観 (view) → your own view.

全員ぜんいんが参加さんかすることを前提ぜんていに計画けいかくを立たてました。

We drew up the plan on the premise that everyone would take part.

Usage を前提に = on the premise that, a common written pattern. 前提条件 = a precondition. 結婚を前提に付き合う = date with marriage in mind.

Remember it 前 (before) + 提 (to put forward) → what is put forward before the argument begins.

根拠こんきょのない噂うわさを信しんじてはいけない。

You shouldn't believe groundless rumors.

Usage 根拠 = grounds, basis: 根拠がある / ない, 根拠を示す (show your grounds), 科学的根拠 (scientific basis). 理由 (りゆう) is a reason.

Remember it 根 (root) + 拠 (basis) → the roots something stands on.

明日あした雨あめが降ふると仮定かていして、計画けいかくを考かんがえよう。

Let's plan on the assumption that it rains tomorrow.

Usage 仮定 is an assumption made for the sake of argument: 〜と仮定する, 仮定の話 (a hypothetical). In grammar, 仮定形 is the conditional form, like 行けば.

Remember it 仮 (provisional) + 定 (to fix) → fixed provisionally.

彼かれの表情ひょうじょうから、答こたえを推測すいそくした。

I guessed the answer from the look on his face.

Usage 推測 is guessing from available clues: 推測する, 推測にすぎない (it's only a guess). 憶測 is speculation with no basis; 予測 is forecasting the future.

Remember it 推 (to infer) + 測 (to measure) → measuring by inference.

憶測おくそくで記事きじを書かくのは無責任むせきにんだ。

Writing articles based on speculation is irresponsible.

Usage 憶測 is speculation with little or no evidence, and it is usually negative: 憶測を呼ぶ (fuel speculation), 憶測が飛び交う (speculation runs wild). 推測 is a reasoned guess.

Remember it 憶 (to recall, imagine) + 測 (to measure) → measuring with imagination alone.

調査ちょうさの結果けっか、事故じこの原因げんいんが判明はんめいした。

The investigation established the cause of the accident.

Usage 判明 = coming to light, becoming clear: 〜が判明する, 身元が判明する (be identified). Common in news. In conversation, 分かる.

Remember it 判 (to judge) + 明 (clear) → judged and made clear.

まだ証拠しょうこがないので、彼かれが犯人はんにんだと断定だんていはできない。

There's no evidence yet, so we can't conclude that he's the culprit.

Usage 断定 is stating something definitively: 断定する, 断定できない, 断定的な言い方 (a categorical way of speaking). Japanese often avoids 断定 by softening with 〜かもしれない.

Remember it 断 (to cut, decide) + 定 (to fix) → cutting off doubt and fixing it.

説明せつめいを聞きいても、まだ疑問ぎもんが残のこっている。

Even after hearing the explanation, I still have questions.

Usage 疑問 = a question or doubt: 疑問を持つ, 疑問に思う (wonder), 疑問が残る. 疑問文 is a question sentence; 質問 (しつもん) is a question you actually ask.

Remember it 疑 (to doubt) + 問 (to ask) → doubting and asking.

彼かれには盗ぬすみの疑うたがいがかけられている。

He is suspected of theft.

Usage 疑い = suspicion or doubt: 〜の疑いがある (be suspected of), 疑いを晴らす (clear yourself of suspicion). In medicine, 〜の疑い means a suspected condition. The verb is 疑う.

Remember it 疑 (to doubt) → a child 子 standing unsure at a crossroads.

彼かれなら必かならず成功せいこうすると確信かくしんしている。

I'm convinced he'll definitely succeed.

Usage 確信 is firm certainty: 確信する, 確信を持つ, 確信犯 (someone who does wrong knowingly). 自信 (じしん) is self-confidence.

Remember it 確 (certain) + 信 (to believe) → believing with certainty.

説明せつめいを聞きいて、やっと納得なっとくできた。

After hearing the explanation, I was finally satisfied.

Usage 納得 is being convinced or satisfied that something makes sense: 納得する, 納得がいかない (it doesn't sit right with me). 理解 is understanding; 納得 is accepting it too.

Remember it 納 (to take in) + 得 (to gain) → taking something in and making it your own.

誤解ごかいを招くまねくような発言はつげんは避けさけた方ほうがいい。

It's better to avoid remarks that could be misunderstood.

Usage 誤解 = misunderstanding: 誤解する, 誤解を招く (invite misunderstanding), 誤解を解く (clear up a misunderstanding). 勘違い (かんちがい) is a personal mix-up.

Remember it 誤 (mistaken) + 解 (to understand) → understanding mistakenly.

初はじめて来きた場所ばしょなのに、前まえにも来きたような錯覚さっかくに陥おちいった。

Even though it was my first time there, I had the illusion of having been there before.

Usage 錯覚 is an illusion or false impression: 錯覚する, 目の錯覚 (optical illusion), 〜ような錯覚に陥る (have the feeling that...).

Remember it 錯 (mixed up) + 覚 (to perceive) → perceiving things mixed up.

疲つかれていると思考しこうが止とまってしまう。

When I'm tired, my thinking grinds to a halt.

Usage 思考 is thought as a process: 論理的思考 (logical thinking), 思考力 (thinking skills), プラス思考 (positive thinking). Don't confuse with 志向 (orientation), also しこう.

Remember it 思 (to think) + 考 (to consider) → thinking and considering.

子供こどもの自由じゆうな発想はっそうには驚おどろかされる。

Children's free-flowing ideas never cease to amaze me.

Usage 発想 is an idea or way of thinking: 発想が豊か (imaginative), 発想の転換 (a change of perspective), 新しい発想. アイデア is the everyday loanword.

Remember it 発 (to send out) + 想 (thought) → thoughts sent out into the world.

新あたらしい小説しょうせつの構想こうそうを練ねっている。

I'm working out the plot of a new novel.

Usage 構想 is an overall plan or vision for a big project: 構想を練る (refine a plan), 都市構想 (a city plan), 構想段階 (the planning stage).

Remember it 構 (to build, structure) + 想 (thought) → building a structure of thought.

直感ちょっかんで、この人ひととは気きが合あうと思おもった。

My gut told me I'd get along with this person.

Usage 直感 is intuition, a gut feeling: 直感で決める, 直感が働く. 勘 (かん) is the everyday word for a hunch. Note the small tsu: ちょっかん.

Remember it 直 (direct) + 感 (feeling) → feeling directly, without reasoning.

彼女かのじょは人ひとの心こころに対たいする鋭するどい洞察力どうさつりょくを持もっている。

She has sharp insight into people's hearts.

Usage 洞察 = insight: 洞察力 (insight, perceptiveness), 深い洞察. It is a written, admiring word.

Remember it 洞 (cave, to see through) + 察 (to observe) → observing right into the cave.

天気てんきを考慮こうりょして、出発しゅっぱつを一日いちにち遅おくらせた。

Taking the weather into account, we put off our departure by a day.

Usage 考慮 is taking something into account: 〜を考慮する, 考慮に入れる, 考慮の余地がない (out of the question).

Remember it 考 (to think) + 慮 (to consider carefully) → thinking something through carefully.

その提案ていあんについては前向まえむきに検討けんとうします。

We'll give that proposal positive consideration.

Usage 検討 is examining or considering something carefully: 検討する, 検討中 (under review). In business, 検討します can be a polite way of saying no.

Remember it 検 (to examine) + 討 (to search into) → examining and searching into.

審判しんぱんの判定はんていに選手せんしゅたちは不満ふまんを示しめした。

The players showed their dissatisfaction with the referee's decision.

Usage 判定 is an official decision or ruling: 判定する, 判定勝ち (win on points), 合否判定 (pass/fail decision). 判断 is personal judgment.

Remember it 判 (to judge) + 定 (to fix) → a judgment fixed officially.

自分じぶんの言動げんどうを深ふかく反省はんせいしています。

I deeply regret what I said and did.

Usage 反省 is reflecting on your mistakes, with a sense of regret: 反省する, 反省会 (a post-mortem meeting). 反省しています is a standard part of a Japanese apology.

Remember it 反 (to turn back) + 省 (to examine) → turning back to examine yourself.

この問題もんだいについて異なることなる見解けんかいがある。

There are differing views on this issue.

Usage 見解 is an official or considered view: 見解を示す (state a position), 政府の見解, 見解の相違 (a difference of opinion). 意見 is a general opinion.

Remember it 見 (to see) + 解 (to interpret) → how you see and interpret it.

お客様おきゃくさまの意向いこうを確認かくにんしてから進すすめます。

We'll proceed after confirming the customer's wishes.

Usage 意向 is someone's intentions or wishes, often of a superior or client: 意向を確認する, 意向を尊重する. 意図 is the purpose behind an action.

Remember it 意 (will) + 向 (direction) → which way someone's will points.

工事こうじは来月らいげつ終おわる見通みとおしだ。

The construction is expected to be finished next month.

Usage 見通し is the outlook or expected outcome: 〜見通しだ (is expected to), 見通しが立たない (the outlook is unclear), 見通しが甘い (overly optimistic). Literally, a clear view ahead: 見通しのいい道.

Remember it 見る (to see) + 通す (to go through) → seeing all the way through.

社長しゃちょうが会社かいしゃの将来しょうらいの展望てんぼうを語かたった。

The president spoke about the company's outlook for the future.

Usage 展望 is a broad view or long-term outlook: 将来の展望, 展望台 (observation deck), 展望が開ける (prospects open up). 見通し is a more specific expectation.

Remember it 展 (to spread out) + 望 (to gaze) → gazing out over a wide view.

専門家せんもんかの予測よそくでは、景気けいきは回復かいふくするそうだ。

According to experts' forecasts, the economy will recover.

Usage 予測 is a forecast based on data: 予測する, 予測がつかない (unpredictable), 需要予測 (demand forecast). 予想 is a more general expectation.

Remember it 予 (beforehand) + 測 (to measure) → measuring ahead of time.

この建物たてものは築ちく百年ひゃくねんと推定すいていされている。

This building is estimated to be a hundred years old.

Usage 推定 is an estimate based on evidence: 推定する, 推定年齢 (estimated age), 推定される (is estimated). In law, 推定無罪 is the presumption of innocence.

Remember it 推 (to infer) + 定 (to fix) → fixing a figure by inference.

この店みせのラーメンはおいしいと評判ひょうばんだ。

This shop's ramen has a reputation for being delicious.

Usage 評判 = reputation: 評判がいい / 悪い, 〜と評判だ (is said to be), 評判になる (become the talk of the town). 口コミ is word of mouth.

Remember it 評 (to appraise) + 判 (to judge) → how people appraise and judge you.

外見がいけんだけで人ひとを判断はんだんするのは偏見へんけんだ。

Judging people only by their appearance is prejudice.

Usage 偏見 = prejudice: 偏見を持つ, 偏見をなくす. 先入観 is a preconception; 偏見 is a biased, often unfair view.

Remember it 偏 (lopsided) + 見 (view) → a lopsided view.

先入観せんにゅうかんを捨すてて、話はなしを聞きいてみよう。

Let's put our preconceptions aside and listen to what they have to say.

Usage 先入観 is a preconception formed beforehand: 先入観を持つ, 先入観にとらわれる (be bound by preconceptions). It is milder than 偏見.

Remember it 先 (before) + 入 (to enter) + 観 (view) → a view that got in before the facts.

議論ぎろんの論点ろんてんがずれている。

The discussion has drifted off the point.

Usage 論点 is the point at issue in a discussion: 論点を整理する (sort out the issues), 論点がずれる (get off topic), 論点ずらし (changing the subject).

Remember it 論 (argument) + 点 (point) → the point of the argument.

その値段ねだんは品質ひんしつから考かんがえて妥当だとうだ。

Considering the quality, that price is reasonable.

Usage 妥当 = reasonable, appropriate, valid: 妥当な判断, 妥当な値段, 妥当性 (validity). 適切 (てきせつ) is suitable for a situation.

Remember it 妥 (appropriate) + 当 (to hit, fit) → fitting appropriately.