How to Say 'I Think' in Japanese to Soften Disagreement Politely
Learn to use 〜と思います (to omoimasu) and 〜かもしれません (kamoshiremasen) to disagree gently in Japanese without sounding blunt or rude.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
In Japanese, saying 'no' or 'that won't work' directly can sound harsh, especially with coworkers, acquaintances, or anyone older than you. A common and natural solution is to wrap your disagreement in 'I think': 〜と思います (to omoimasu). This marks the statement as your personal opinion rather than a flat fact, which softens the impact. You can also add 〜かもしれません (kamoshiremasen), meaning 'might be' or 'maybe,' to sound even more tentative. This lesson focuses only on softening disagreement. You will learn the basic pattern, when to use it, and how to avoid the most common mistake English speakers make when trying to be polite in Japanese.
By the end, you can…
- use 〜と思います to express a softened disagreement in Japanese.
- use 〜かもしれません to make a disagreement sound tentative and polite.
- choose between direct and softened forms based on the listener and situation.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
それは難しいと思います。
I think that's difficult.
Sore wa muzukashii to omoimasu.
A safe, polite way to signal that a plan or request may not work. Softer than saying それは難しいです.
ちょっと無理かもしれません。
It might be a bit impossible.
Chotto muri kamoshiremasen.
Chotto ('a bit') plus kamoshiremasen makes the refusal very gentle. Common in workplace and social situations.
私はそうは思いません。
I don't think so.
Watashi wa sō wa omoimasen.
A clear but still polite disagreement. The particle は after そう adds contrast and softens the negation.
その方法はうまくいかないと思います。
I think that approach won't go well.
Sono hōhō wa umaku ikanai to omoimasu.
Useful when commenting on a plan or method. The negative plain form いかない appears before と思います.
時間が足りないかもしれません。
We might not have enough time.
Jikan ga tarinai kamoshiremasen.
Kamoshiremasen expresses possibility, not certainty, so it sounds less confrontational than 足りません.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is plain-form verb or adjective + と思います (to omoimasu). For example, 難しい (muzukashii, 'difficult') becomes 難しいと思います ('I think it's difficult'). For negative meanings, use the plain negative form: うまくいかないと思います ('I think it won't go well'). To sound even softer, replace と思います with かもしれません (kamoshiremasen): 無理かもしれません ('It might be impossible'). Note that と思います follows plain form, not the polite です/ます form: say 難しいと思います, not 難しいですと思います. One more point: 〜と思います is normally written in kana as と思います, not with the kanji 思います in casual text, though the kanji form is also correct.
When to use it
Use 〜と思います when you want to disagree with a suggestion, plan, or opinion without rejecting it outright. It is especially useful at work, in class, or with people you do not know well. For example, if a coworker suggests a schedule you think is unrealistic, you can say そのスケジュールは厳しいと思います ('I think that schedule is tough'). If you want to leave room for the other person's view, use 〜かもしれません: 少し高いかもしれません ('It might be a little expensive'). Avoid these softeners with close friends when you want to be direct and playful; there, plain disagreement can be perfectly natural.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
この計画、来週までに終わらせましょう。
Let's finish this plan by next week.Kono keikaku, raishū made ni owarasemashō.来週までに終わらせるのは難しいと思います。
I think finishing it by next week is difficult.Raishū made ni owaraseru no wa muzukashii to omoimasu.では、いつごろがいいですか。
Then when would be good?Dewa, itsugoro ga ii desu ka.再来週までなら、間に合うかもしれません。
If it's by the week after next, we might make it in time.Saraishū made nara, maniau kamoshiremasen.A little context goes a long way
In Japanese, politeness often comes from leaving room for the other person's view rather than stating a firm conclusion. 〜と思います and 〜かもしれません do this by framing your statement as an opinion or possibility. This does not mean Japanese speakers never disagree directly; among close friends or in urgent situations, direct forms are normal. The key is matching your level of softness to the relationship and context.
One thing to watch for
Learners often attach と思います to the polite form, saying 難しいですと思います.
Try this instead: Use the plain form before と思います: 難しいと思います. If you want to keep です, end the sentence there and start a new one, or simply use 難しいと思います as a complete polite sentence.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you politely say 'I think that might be a little difficult' using と思います?
Show a sample answer
ちょっと難しいと思います。
Chotto ('a little') plus 難しいと思います softens the disagreement. 少し難しいと思います is also correct and slightly more formal.
2Which is more tentative: 無理です or 無理かもしれません?
Show a sample answer
無理かもしれません is more tentative.
Kamoshiremasen means 'might be,' so it presents the idea as a possibility rather than a fact. 無理です is a direct statement and can sound blunt.
3Fix this sentence: その方法はうまくいきませんと思います。
Show a sample answer
その方法はうまくいかないと思います。
Before と思います, use the plain negative form いかない, not the polite いきません. The corrected sentence means 'I think that approach won't go well.'
To disagree politely in Japanese, use plain form + と思います, and add かもしれません when you want to sound even more tentative.
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