Business Japanese – Difference between “思われる” and “考えられる”
Table of Contents
1. Difference between “思われる” and “考えられる”
2. What is the “〜られる” form?
3. 思われる
4. 考えられる
5. Let’s Compare
6. Summary
7. Quiz
8. Similar Articles
9. Comment
Q: I often see “思われる” and “考えられる” in business emails. Do I need to distinguish between them?
A: Both are expressions used to state a result or conclusion based on some kind of inference, but it’s important to distinguish between them depending on what the reasoning or basis is.
What is the “〜られる” form?
Expressions like “思われる” and “考えられる” use the “〜られる” form, which has multiple meanings in Japanese grammar. In this case, it is used in the sense of spontaneity.
◾ What does “spontaneity” mean?
“Spontaneity” refers to something that happens or is felt naturally, without the speaker actively trying to do it.
[Examples]
昔のことが思い出されます。
I remember things from the past.
⇒ It means that memories naturally come back to mind.
彼の努力が思い浮かべられますね。
His efforts come to mind, don’t they?
⇒ It means his efforts naturally come to mind.
◾ Why are “思われる” and “考えられる” considered spontaneous?
思われる：You naturally come to think or feel something; it’s commonly perceived that way.
考えられる：Based on data or the situation, you naturally arrive at a certain conclusion.
In other words, the speaker is not intentionally saying “I think” or “I believe,”
but instead using a more detached and soft expression like “It seems” or “It is considered.”
◾ Features of spontaneous expressions
Spontaneous expressions give an objective and modest tone,
avoiding direct assertions while maintaining persuasiveness and politeness.
For this reason, they are often used in academic writing, news reports, and business documents.
[Example]
この方法が効果的だと考えられています。
This method is considered effective.
⇒ It presents the idea as a generally accepted or widely shared view.
In this way, “思われる” and “考えられる” are used as spontaneous expressions,
not passive ones, and convey the nuance of “naturally coming to feel or think something.”
思われる
“思われる” has two main usages: ① Based on the impressions or opinions of the speaker or the general public ② Something that naturally comes to mind after seeing or hearing something
[Examples]
この映画は子どもにも人気があるように思われる。（①）
This movie seems to be popular among children.
彼はあまり話さないが、まじめな人だと思われる。（②）
He doesn’t talk much, but he seems to be a serious person.
最近の若者は安定よりもやりがいを重視しているように思われる。（①＋②）
Young people these days seem to value fulfillment more than stability.
Because “思われる” includes a subjective way of thinking, it is often used when talking about everyday topics or expressing personal opinions.
考えられる
“考えられる” is used to state conclusions that are calmly drawn based on theories, data, or facts.
For this reason, it is often used in formal settings such as academic papers, reports, news articles, and business documents.
[Examples]
専門家によると、カロリーが高いものばかり食べると病気になりやすいと考えられている。
According to experts, eating only high-calorie foods is thought to increase the risk of illness.
データによると、結婚する人は年々減っていると考えられる。
According to the data, the number of people getting married is believed to be decreasing year by year.
Let’s Compare
“思われる” and “考えられる” both express inference, but the key to using them correctly lies in whether the statement is based on subjective or objective reasoning. Let’s compare the following examples:
[Example ①]
彼はまだ新人だが、いい社員になると思われる。
彼はまだ新人だが、いい社員になると考えられる。
The correct expression is “思われる”.
This is a subjective prediction based on the speaker’s impression or the general atmosphere.
On the other hand, “考えられる” is more suited to objective judgments based on data or proven performance.
[Example ②]
今回の地震では、大きな被害が出たと思われる。
今回の地震では、大きな被害が出たと考えられる。
In this case, both can be used, but their nuance differs:
• “思われる” reflects an impression from local reports or visual information.
• “考えられる” is a logical assumption based on the scale of the damage or earthquake intensity. This expression is often preferred in news or analytical writing.
In short, it is important to choose between the two based on the speaker’s position, purpose, and tone.
Summary
| Usage | Characteristics | |
| 思われる | ① Based on the impressions or views of the speaker or the general public ② Something that comes to mind naturally after seeing or hearing something | Subjective and sensory Based on impressions or emotions |
| 考えられる | Describes a conclusion drawn calmly based on theory, data, or facts Logical and analytical | Thought process that involves careful consideration over time |
Quiz
Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.
Click on the question to check the answer.
A. 思われる
最近は子どもの読書時間が減っているように思われる。
Recently, it seems that children’s reading time has been decreasing.
*Since this is based on the general atmosphere in society or media reports rather than specific data, “思われる” is the more natural expression.
A. 考えられている
このウイルスは空気中でも感染する可能性があると考えられている。
It is believed that this virus can also be transmitted through the air.
*As the statement is based on expert analysis or research findings, the objective “考えられている” is appropriate.
A. 思われる
おそらくこの家には誰も住んでいないと思われる。
It seems that no one lives in this house anymore.
*The word “probably” signals a subjective judgment, so “思われる” is more natural in conveying the speaker’s impression.
A. 考えられる
このデータから、人は40万年以上前に現れたと考えられる。
Based on this data, it is thought that humans appeared over 400,000 years ago.
*Since this conclusion is based on clear evidence (“data”), the logical and objective “考えられる” is the appropriate choice.
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