Meaning
The act of forming ideas or opinions in one's mind.
Cultural Background
Koreans often use '생각해요' to avoid sounding too dogmatic. It's a way to show humility and respect for the listener's potentially different opinion. In meetings, saying '제 생각은 다릅니다' (My thought is different) is a polite way to disagree with a superior without being confrontational. The hashtag #생각 (#Thought) or #생각중 (#Thinking) is often used with artistic photos to indicate a reflective or moody state of mind. Thinking of someone (보고 싶다/생각나다) is considered a high form of intimacy. It implies the person is part of your daily mental life.
The 'Opinion' Buffer
Always use '~라고 생각해요' in discussions to sound more sophisticated and less aggressive.
Don't forget the particle
Using '생각해요' without '라고' or '을' can make the sentence grammatically incomplete in many contexts.
Meaning
The act of forming ideas or opinions in one's mind.
The 'Opinion' Buffer
Always use '~라고 생각해요' in discussions to sound more sophisticated and less aggressive.
Don't forget the particle
Using '생각해요' without '라고' or '을' can make the sentence grammatically incomplete in many contexts.
Missing Someone
If you want to say 'I'm thinking of you' in a romantic way, '네 생각 하고 있어' is perfect.
Noun usage
The noun '생각' can also mean 'intention'. '그럴 생각 없었어' means 'I didn't have that intention'.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form to say 'I think it is expensive.'
이 가방이 비싸___ {생각|生覺}해요.
For adjectives like '비싸다', we use the '~다고' quotation marker.
Which sentence means 'I am thinking of going to Korea'?
한국에...
The '~ㄹ/을까 생각하다' pattern is used to express tentative plans.
Match the Korean phrase to its English meaning.
1. 무슨 생각 해? / 2. 네 생각 났어! / 3. 그렇게 생각해요. / 4. 고민 중이에요.
These are common variations of the 'thinking' concept in Korean.
Complete the dialogue with the most natural response.
A: 이 영화 어때요? B: ________.
Giving an opinion about a movie requires the '~다고' marker.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
생각하다 vs 생각나다
Practice Bank
4 exercises이 가방이 비싸___ {생각|生覺}해요.
For adjectives like '비싸다', we use the '~다고' quotation marker.
한국에...
The '~ㄹ/을까 생각하다' pattern is used to express tentative plans.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are common variations of the 'thinking' concept in Korean.
A: 이 영화 어때요? B: ________.
Giving an opinion about a movie requires the '~다고' marker.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questions생각하다 is an active, intentional mental process (I am thinking). 생각나다 is an involuntary occurrence (A thought came to me/I remembered).
Not directly. You use '~ㄹ까 생각하다' to mean 'I'm thinking of doing...', which implies a desire, but it's not the same as '~고 싶다'.
Yes! '친구를 생각하다' means you are thinking about your friend, often with a connotation of caring for them.
'라고' or '다고' acts as a quotation mark, showing that the preceding part is the content of your thought.
You can say '그렇게 생각하지 않아요' or '제 생각은 좀 달라요'.
The verb itself is neutral. Its formality depends on the ending (~합니다, ~해요, ~해).
No, for religious belief, use '믿다' (to believe).
It means 'to give it some thought' or 'to try thinking about it'. It's very common when you need time to decide.
Young people often use '뇌피셜' (Brain-official) to describe their own thoughts presented as facts.
Use '무슨 생각 해요?'
Yes, but in formal essays, '~라고 사료된다' or '~라고 판단된다' are sometimes used for higher-level academic tone.
It can, but '고민하다' or '걱정하다' are more specific for worrying.
Related Phrases
{생각|生覺}나다
similarTo occur to one; to remember suddenly
고민(苦悶)하다
specialized formTo worry or agonize over a decision
고려(考慮)하다
formalTo consider or take into account
상상(想像)하다
similarTo imagine
기억(記憶)하다
similarTo remember
