What's the difference between 考 and 思?

[CopernicusSnail]

basically what the title says, Is there a situation you would use one as opposed to the other?

[Leebo]

Firstly, those two kanji aren’t often used as words on their own, though technically you can find 考 in the dictionary. For a beginner, there’s no reason to worry about that.

Typically, you’ll see 考 in 考える (かんがえる to think) and 思 in 思う (おもう to think).

Yes, those words have distinct usages. 考える is more like “consider, think about” while 思う is “to think” in the sense of “I think it’s going to rain” or “I think this book is interesting”.

明日の予定を考えましょう
Let’s think about tomorrow’s plans

日本に行きたいと思う
I think I want to go to Japan

[xyzbuster]

考 = ponder/ contemplate. 思 = think

[CopernicusSnail]

ah I see, that makes sense. thx

[crumpet]

Funnily enough I posted the exact same question on HelloTalk the other day… from the responses I gather that:

1. 考える is “logical, formal, justified/reasoned thought”
2. 思う is “subjective, informal, feeling, emotional, candid”