考 – Kanji Meaning, Reading, and Common Words

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考

考 means to think, to consider, or to reflect on something. It is one of the most common kanji for mental activity in everyday Japanese.

Reading

On’yomi: コウ (kou)

Kun’yomi: かんが-える (kanga-eru)

Basic Information

Kanji 考
Meaning think, consider, reflect
Stroke Count 6
JLPT Level N4

How to Understand This Kanji

考 focuses on the active process of thinking through a problem or idea. It often implies careful thought rather than a passing feeling. Compared with 思, which can describe emotions and impressions, 考 tends to emphasize reasoning and deliberation. 考える is what you do when you need to figure something out.

Common Words

  • 考える（かんがえる / kangaeru） — to think, to consider
  • 考え（かんがえ / kangae） — thought, idea, opinion
  • 考え方（かんがえかた / kangaekata） — way of thinking, perspective
  • 参考（さんこう / sankou） — reference, consultation
  • 思考（しこう / shikou） — thinking, thought process
  • 考慮（こうりょ / kouryo） — consideration, taking into account

Example Sentences

  • この問題についてよく考えました。

    このもんだいについてよくかんがえました。 / Kono mondai ni tsuite yoku kangaemashita.

    I thought carefully about this problem.

  • 参考にしてください。

    さんこうにしてください。 / Sankou ni shite kudasai.

    Please use this as a reference.

  • 彼女の考え方はとても面白いです。

    かのじょのかんがえかたはとてもおもしろいです。 / Kanojo no kangaekata wa totemo omoshiroi desu.

    Her way of thinking is very interesting.

Related Kanji

  • 知

    — 知 means to know, while 考 means to think; they are closely linked because thinking leads to knowledge and knowing something informs how we think.

  • 学

    — 学 means to study or learn, and thinking is central to effective study; the two often appear together in educational contexts.

  • 気

    — 気にする means to mind or worry about something, which connects naturally with 考える; both describe mental attention directed at a subject.

When Learners Usually See This Kanji

The core word to learn is 考える, meaning ‘to think’ or ‘to consider.’ It is used when you are working through a problem or forming an opinion. In compounds, the on’yomi コウ appears in useful words such as 参考 and 思考. Do not confuse 考える with 思う: 考える is more deliberate, while 思う often expresses a feeling or impression.

Summary

考 means to think or to consider, and it appears in key vocabulary for reasoning, study, and reflection.