Japanese - Expressing Opinions

Lesson 163 of 168

Goal: Give a polite opinion and agree with others

Free Japanese lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome — short and friendly! In this lesson you’ll hear two short, useful opinion phrases and practice them aloud. Repeat after the audio and try the mini-dialogue to feel natural using them.

Level A1: Lesson 163 practices two polite ways to share and agree with opinions in Japanese: いいと思います。(Ii to omoimasu.) and そう思います。(Sō omoimasu.). This CEFR-aligned mini-lesson helps you say a mild positive opinion and politely agree with someone — perfect for everyday chats about plans, places, and ideas.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

Learn and repeat the polite opinion phrase いいと思います。(Ii to omoimasu.) — “I think it’s good.”
Learn and repeat the polite agreement phrase そう思います。(Sō omoimasu.) — “I think so.”
Practice these phrases in a short conversation and quick quizzes (Level A1).

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

いいと思います。

Ii to omoimasu.

I think it’s good.

Meaning: I think it’s good.

When to use: Use いいと思います。when you want to give a mild positive opinion about a suggestion, plan, or thing in polite Japanese.

Tip: Beginners sometimes say いいです。which is shortened but less clearly an opinion. Use いいと思います。to emphasize your personal view politely.

新しいメニューはいいと思います。

Atarashii menyū wa ii to omoimasu.

I think the new menu is good.

その映画は面白いから、行くのはいいと思います。

Sono eiga wa omoshiroi kara, iku no wa ii to omoimasu.

Since the movie is interesting, I think going is good.

そう思います

Sō omoimasu.

I think so.

Meaning: I think so.

When to use: Use そう思います。to politely agree with someone’s comment or idea.

Tip: Don't confuse そう思います。with そうですね。The first is agreement as a thought; そうですね is often a softer response or thinking time.

私もそう思います。

Watashi mo sō omoimasu.

I think so too.

彼の意見には私もそう思います。

Kare no iken ni wa watashi mo sō omoimasu.

I also think so about his opinion.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Choosing a restaurant

Anna and David at a small restaurant table in Japan, using polite opinion phrases to decide where to sit.

Do Anna and David agree about the restaurant?

Anna

このレストラン、どう思いますか？

Kono resutoran, dō omoimasu ka?

What do you think of this restaurant?

David

私はいいと思います。

Watashi wa ii to omoimasu.

I think it's good.

Anna

私もそう思います。

Watashi mo sō omoimasu.

I think so too.

David

じゃ、ここにしましょう。

Ja, koko ni shimashō.

Then let's pick this place.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase means 'I think it’s good.'?

Which phrase is best to politely agree with someone’s opinion?

A: 新しい店、試してみない？ B: ___

How would you say 'I think so' (polite) in Japanese?

I think that's a good idea.

A: 来週ピクニックに行きませんか？ B: ___

A: Raishū pikunikku ni ikimasen ka? B: ___

I think so.

A: 日本の電車は時間に正確だと思います。 B: ___

A: Nihon no densha wa jikan ni seikaku da to omoimasu. B: ___

I think so.

A: このデザインがシンプルでいいと思います。 B: ___

A: Kono dezain ga shinpuru de ii to omoimasu. B: ___

Match the core phrases

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Match the extra phrases

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4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

いいと思います。

Ii to omoimasu.

I think it's good.

Say this phrase out loud:

そう思います

Sō omoimasu.

I think so.