Japanese word

思いつく

Pronunciation

Romajiomoitsuku

Meaning

  • verbthink of

Example

新しい方法を思いつきました。atara shi i hō hō o omo i tsu ki ma shi ta

I thought of a new way.

Illustration for 思いつく (think of)

More examples

会議の途中で、新しい企画を思いつきました。kai gi no to chū de atara shi i ki kaku o omo i tsu ki ma shi ta

I thought of a new project during the meeting.

Core concept

Describes a new idea or possible solution suddenly becoming available to the mind.

Common phrases

  • アイデアを思いつくa i de a o omo i tsu ku

    think of an idea

  • 解決策を思いつくkai ketsu saku o omo i tsu ku

    think of a solution

  • 方法を思いつくhō hō o omo i tsu ku

    think of a way

Similar words

思い浮かぶomoiukabu: A new idea or image appears in the mind naturally.
考え付くkangaetsuku: A person arrives at an idea or solution after thinking.
発想するhassōsuru: A person develops an idea by using imagination and creative thought.

Definition in Japanese

新しい考えや方法などを、ふと考え出す。atara shi i kanga e ya hō hō na do o fu to kanga e da su

Word origin

The verb 思いつく (omoitsuku) combines 思い (omoi, "thought"), the noun form of 思う (omou, "think"), with 付く (tsuku, "attach or reach"), expressing a thought that reaches the mind.

Usage tips

  • For JLPT learners, 思いつく (omoitsuku) marks the arrival of an idea, whereas 思い出す (omoidasu) marks the return of a remembered fact or event.

Other meanings

  • come to mindverb

Related words

Word lists with this word