to think; to feel ~ (思いをする) – Japanese Grammar 思いをする (omoi o suru)

Q: What JLPT level is 思いをする?

JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms

Q: How do you use 思いをする in a sentence?

Attach 思いをする to the appropriate verb or noun form. To think; to feel ~

Q: Is 思いをする formal or casual Japanese?

思いをする is typically used in formal or written Japanese contexts.

思いをする

N1 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

omoi o suru

to think; to feel ~

やれ〜やれ yare~yare といえども to ie domo ともなく / ともなしに tomo naku/nashi ni うちに入らない uchi ni hairanai ではあるまいし dewa arumai shi には当たらない niwa ataranai あっての atte no に即して ni sokushite に足らない/に足りない ni taranai/tarinai に難くない ni katakunai に言わせれば ni iwasereba かたわら katawara にしたところで /としたところで ni shita tokoro de / to shita tokoro de なしに / なしで nashi ni / nashi de いかに ikani にあって ni atte あらかじめ arakajime であれ〜であれ de are~de are がてら gatera じみた jimita やれ〜やれ yare~yare といえども to ie domo ともなく / ともなしに tomo naku/nashi ni うちに入らない uchi ni hairanai ではあるまいし dewa arumai shi には当たらない niwa ataranai あっての atte no に即して ni sokushite に足らない/に足りない ni taranai/tarinai に難くない ni katakunai に言わせれば ni iwasereba かたわら katawara にしたところで /としたところで ni shita tokoro de / to shita tokoro de なしに / なしで nashi ni / nashi de いかに ikani にあって ni atte あらかじめ arakajime であれ〜であれ de are~de are がてら gatera じみた jimita

🃏 Flashcard

思いをする

omoi o suru

Tap to reveal usage

to think; to feel ~

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N1

Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms

Reading omoi o suru

Post ID 51350

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

to think; to feel ~

📖 How to use it

Expresses the idea of having a particular thought or feeling, often with an adjective describing the emotion.

Attaches to Attach to a noun that describes a thought or feeling, such as 辛い思い (tsurai omoi) or 不思議な思い (fushigi na omoi), followed by をする. The noun is typically modified by an adjective or relative clause.

This pattern literally means 'to do a feeling' and is used to express that someone has a certain thought or emotion, often one that is deep or significant. It is more nuanced than simply saying と思う or 感じる, as it emphasizes the experience of the feeling. For example, 辛い思いをする means 'to have a painful experience' or 'to go through a hard time emotionally.' The pattern often appears with adjectives like 辛い (painful), 楽しい (pleasant), 不思議 (strange), or 複雑 (complex). It can also follow a clause like 初めて会った時の思いをする, though this is less common. The phrase is somewhat formal and literary, frequently used in narratives, essays, or reflective speech. It is not typically used in casual conversation.

彼女は子供の頃、辛い思いをしたそうだ。

Kanojo wa kodomo no koro, tsurai omoi o shita sou da.

I heard she had a painful experience as a child.

久しぶりに故郷に帰って、懐かしい思いをした。

Hisashiburi ni kokyou ni kaette, natsukashii omoi o shita.

Returning to my hometown after a long time, I felt a sense of nostalgia.

彼の話を聞いて、不思議な思いをした。

Kare no hanashi o kiite, fushigi na omoi o shita.

After listening to his story, I felt a strange feeling.

Not 気持ちをする (kimochi o suru) - this is less common and often used in set phrases like 気持ちを込める (to put one's heart into). 思いをする focuses on a specific thought or feeling triggered by an experience, often with adjectives like 辛い or 懐かしい. 気持ちをする is rarely used in the same way; instead, 気持ち is used with verbs like 伝える or 込める. If you want to say 'I have a feeling,' you would typically use 気持ちがする (kimochi ga suru).

Register This pattern is formal and literary, often found in written narratives or reflective speech, but not in casual conversation.

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

思いをする

📚 How to Master This Pattern

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Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat 思いをする three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using 思いをする. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

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Spaced Review

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with the intention to; on the condition

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when; at the time; on the occasion ~

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern 思いをする mean? ▼

To think; to feel ~

What JLPT level is 思いをする? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use 思いをする in a sentence? ▼

Attach 思いをする (omoi o suru) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.

Is 思いをする formal or casual Japanese? ▼

思いをする is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.

How can I remember 思いをする long-term? ▼

Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.