Chapter 24 — Opinions, Reasons, and Explanations

The previous chapters gave you situational vocabulary and keigo for navigating real-world interactions. Now we turn to something different: expressing what you think and why you think it. Stating opinions, giving reasons, connecting ideas logically, and structuring arguments — these are the skills that move you from transactional communication to genuine conversation.

This chapter brings together several patterns. Some you have seen before — から, ので, んです, けど — and we will expand them. Others are new: the reason-listing し, the conjunctive adverbs それに and その上, the logical connectors だから and ですから, and the contrastive connectors しかし and けれども in their full range of registers. Most importantly, we return to と思う and push it further, introducing hedged opinions that sound natural rather than blunt.

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to construct the kind of multi-sentence argument that Japanese speakers produce daily: stating a position, supporting it with reasons, adding supplementary points, acknowledging counterarguments, and drawing conclusions.

24.1 と思う — Complex Embedded Clauses and Hedged Opinions

You learned と思う in Stage 1 as the basic way to say "I think that...":

日本語は　むずかしいと　思います。 "I think Japanese is difficult."

This section pushes と思う into more complex territory.

Embedding longer clauses

The clause before と can be as long and complex as you need. The entire clause, no matter how many words it contains, is the content of the thought. The only rule is that the clause must end in a plain form before と.

あしたは　雨が　降ると　思います。 "I think it will rain tomorrow."

田中さんは　もう　うちに　帰ったと　思います。 "I think Tanaka has already gone home."

この　しけんは　先生が　思っているより　むずかしいと　思う。 "I think this exam is harder than the teacher thinks."

Notice the last example: a と思う embedded inside another と思う. This is perfectly natural. The inner clause （先生が思っているより　むずかしい） is the content of the outer と思う.

Negative opinions: ～ないと思う vs ～と思わない

When you want to say "I don't think...," Japanese has two structures, and they are not interchangeable.

～ないと思う — "I think that [something] is not the case." This is the standard, natural pattern.

あしたは　雨が　降らないと　思います。 "I think it won't rain tomorrow."

田中さんは　来ないと　思います。 "I think Tanaka won't come."

～と思わない — "I don't think that..." This negates the act of thinking itself. It is much stronger and rarer. It implies active disagreement or denial.

そうとは　思わない。 "I don't think so." (Strong disagreement)

In practice, ～ないと思う is what you need 90% of the time. When you want to express "I don't think it will rain," say 降らないと思う, not 降ると思わない.

Hedged opinions: ～んじゃないかと思う

Japanese communication strongly values indirectness. Stating opinions too directly can sound aggressive or presumptuous. The pattern ～んじゃないかと思う is one of the most common hedging devices.

Let us break it down:

• ん = の (explanatory)
• じゃないか = "isn't it the case that...?" (seeking confirmation)
• と思う = "I think"

Together: "I think it might be the case that..."

田中さんは　忙しいんじゃないかと　思います。 "I think Tanaka might be busy." (Hedged — softer than 忙しいと思います)

この　計画は　ちょっと　むずかしいんじゃないかと　思います。 "I think this plan might be a bit difficult."

あの　店は　もう　閉まったんじゃないかと　思います。 "I think that store might have closed already."

The effect is significant. Compare:

The hedged form is especially useful in workplace settings, when disagreeing with someone, or when bringing up a potentially sensitive point. It allows the speaker to float an idea without committing to it forcefully.

～と思っている vs ～と思う

There is a subtle but important difference between these two forms.

と思う — A thought occurring now, in the moment of speaking.

いい　天気だと　思う。 "I think it's nice weather." (Impression right now)

と思っている — A belief or opinion that has been held over time.

日本語の　べんきょうは　たいせつだと　思っています。 "I believe (and have believed) that studying Japanese is important."

来年　日本に　行きたいと　思っています。 "I've been thinking that I want to go to Japan next year." (Ongoing plan)

When describing your sustained beliefs, と思っている is more natural. When reporting a fresh impression, と思う is the right choice.

24.2 Review and Expansion of から, ので, んです

You learned から and ので in Stage 1 (Chapter 20) and have used them throughout Stage 2. This section consolidates your knowledge and adds patterns you have not yet seen.

から — Quick Review

から follows a clause in plain or polite form and gives a reason.

時間が　ないから、タクシーに　乗りましょう。 "Because there's no time, let's take a taxi."

明日は　休みですから、ゆっくり　寝られます。 "Because tomorrow is a day off, I can sleep in."

から is direct and subjective. The speaker presents their reason confidently.

ので — Quick Review

ので follows a clause in plain form (with な after な-adjectives and nouns) and gives a reason more softly and objectively.

電車が　止まっているので、バスで　行きます。 "Since the trains have stopped, I'll go by bus."

明日は　大事な　会議なので、早く　寝ます。 "Since there's an important meeting tomorrow, I'll go to bed early."

んです / のです — The Explanatory Frame

You first met んです in Stage 1 as a way to give explanations or seek them. Now that you have spent months using Japanese, we can state its function more precisely.

んです wraps a statement in an explanatory frame. It says: "I am telling you this because it connects to what we are talking about" or "there is a story behind this." It appears in three main situations:

1. Giving an explanation (often after being asked or when context demands one):

A: どうしたんですか。 "What happened?" / "What's wrong?"

B: 頭が　痛いんです。 "I have a headache." (Explaining why I look unwell)

Without んです, 頭が痛いです is a plain statement. With んです, it answers an implicit "why."

2. Providing background for a request or statement:

すみません、道に　迷ったんですが、駅は　どちらですか。 "Excuse me, I've gotten lost — which way is the station?"

The んですが pattern (explanatory + けど/が trailing) is extremely common. It sets up the situation before making the actual request.

3. Seeking an explanation:

どうして　来なかったんですか。 "Why didn't you come?" (I want to know the reason)

Adding んです to a question signals that you expect an explanatory answer, not just a yes/no.

Plain form: のだ / んだ

In casual speech, んです becomes んだ (or のだ in slightly more formal writing).

もう　食べたんだ。 "Oh, you already ate." (I see — that explains it.)

今日は　忙しいんだ。 "I'm busy today." (That's why I can't go — explanatory)

Combining ので and んです

These two can work together. んです gives the explanatory frame, and the reason clause uses ので or から as usual.

電車が　遅れたので、遅くなったんです。 "The train was delayed, so I'm late." (Explaining my lateness)

24.3 し — Listing Reasons

し is a conjunctive particle that lists multiple reasons, qualities, or facts in support of a conclusion. It attaches to the plain form (or polite form in polite speech) of a predicate.

Formation

Basic usage: listing reasons

この　レストランは　安いし、おいしいし、近いし、よく　行きます。 "This restaurant is cheap, delicious, and close by, so I go there often."

今日は　天気も　いいし、時間も　あるし、散歩しませんか。 "The weather's nice today, and we have time, so shall we take a walk?"

あの　映画は　長いし、つまらないし、見ない　ほうが　いいです。 "That movie is long and boring, so it's better not to watch it."

Key characteristics of し

1. Implies there are more reasons. Even when you list two or three reasons with し, the listener understands that these are not the only ones. し carries the nuance of "among other things."

お金も　ないし... "I don't have money, and (other reasons too)..."

2. The conclusion can come at the beginning or end. Unlike から and ので, which have a fixed reason-conclusion order, し allows flexibility.

よく　行きます。安いし、おいしいし。 "I go there often. It's cheap and delicious, so."

3. Can list a single reason. Even one し implies there are unstated additional reasons.

疲れたし、帰ります。 "I'm tired (among other things), so I'm heading home."

し in polite speech

In polite conversation, the predicates before し can be in polite form.

天気も　いいですし、散歩しましょう。 "The weather's nice, so let's take a walk."

This is common in semi-formal settings. In casual conversation, plain forms before し are standard.

24.4 それに, その上 — "Moreover, Furthermore"

These conjunctive expressions add information to what has already been said. They function at the sentence level — you use them at the beginning of a new sentence to pile on an additional point.

それに — "moreover, besides, on top of that"

それに is the more common and conversational of the two. It works in both casual and polite registers.

あの　アパートは　駅から　近いです。それに、家賃も　安いです。 "That apartment is close to the station. Moreover, the rent is cheap too."

日本語は　文法が　むずかしいです。それに、漢字も　たくさん　あります。 "Japanese grammar is difficult. On top of that, there are lots of kanji too."

今日は　仕事が　多かった。それに、会議も　三つ　あった。 "I had a lot of work today. Besides, there were three meetings too."

その上 — "furthermore, what's more"

その上 is more formal than それに. It appears in writing, presentations, and careful speech. It carries a stronger sense of accumulation — each point builds on the last.

この　製品は　品質が　高いです。その上、値段も　手ごろです。 "This product is high quality. Furthermore, the price is reasonable."

今月は　残業が　多かった。その上、休日出勤も　あった。 "There was a lot of overtime this month. What's more, there was weekend work too."

それに vs その上

Both add information. それに is what you will hear in daily conversation. その上 is what you will see in essays and formal contexts.

24.5 だから / ですから — "Therefore, So"

These are sentence-initial connectors that draw a conclusion from what was just said. The preceding sentence is the reason; the sentence beginning with だから or ですから is the result.

だから — casual "so, therefore"

明日は　テストが　ある。だから、今日は　早く　寝る。 "There's a test tomorrow. So I'll go to bed early tonight."

電車が　止まっている。だから、バスで　行こう。 "The trains have stopped. So let's go by bus."

あの　人は　いつも　うそを　つく。だから、信用できない。 "That person always lies. That's why I can't trust them."

ですから — polite "therefore"

明日は　大切な　会議が　あります。ですから、今日は　早く　帰ります。 "There's an important meeting tomorrow. Therefore, I'll go home early today."

この　薬は　強いです。ですから、食後に　飲んでください。 "This medicine is strong. Therefore, please take it after meals."

だから in mid-sentence

だから can also appear between clauses within a single sentence. In this usage, it functions like から but with the feel of drawing a logical conclusion.

時間が　ない、だから　急ごう。 "We don't have time — so let's hurry."

だから as a response

だから is frequently used as a single-word response meaning "that's why" or "exactly."

A: あの　レストラン、いつも　こんでいるね。 "That restaurant is always crowded, isn't it."

B: だから、予約した　ほうが　いいよ。 "That's why it's better to make a reservation."

24.6 でも / しかし / けれども — "But / However"

Japanese has multiple words for "but," and the differences are primarily about register and formality. Understanding which to use where is essential for sounding natural.

でも — casual "but"

でも begins a new sentence and introduces a contrasting or unexpected point. It is the most common contrastive connector in casual conversation.

日本語は　むずかしい。でも、おもしろい。 "Japanese is difficult. But it's interesting."

たくさん　勉強した。でも、テストは　だめだった。 "I studied a lot. But the test went badly."

雨が　降っている。でも、行きたい。 "It's raining. But I want to go."

でも is friendly and natural. It is appropriate in conversation, casual writing, blogs, and text messages.

しかし — formal "however"

しかし is the formal equivalent of でも. It appears in essays, news articles, academic writing, formal speeches, and business communications. You will rarely hear it in casual conversation.

経済は　成長している。しかし、問題も　多い。 "The economy is growing. However, there are many problems too."

この　計画には　利点が　ある。しかし、リスクも　考えなければ　ならない。 "This plan has advantages. However, we must also consider the risks."

Using しかし in casual conversation sounds stiff and literary — like saying "however" in a chat with friends. Recognize it in reading; use でも in conversation.

けれども / けれど / けど — the full spectrum

You learned けど in Stage 1 as a clause-final "but." The full form is けれども, and it exists on a formality gradient:

All three connect clauses within a single sentence.

買い物に　行きたいけど、時間が　ない。 "I want to go shopping, but I don't have time."

説明を　聞いたけれど、よく　わからなかった。 "I heard the explanation, but I didn't really understand."

申し訳ありませんけれども、その日は　都合が　悪いです。 "I'm sorry, but that day doesn't work for me."

Sentence-initial けれども

けれども (and its shorter forms) can also begin a sentence, functioning like でも or しかし. This is more common in formal contexts.

多くの　人が　賛成した。けれども、反対の　意見も　あった。 "Many people agreed. However, there were opposing opinions too."

Summary of contrastive connectors

The trailing けど

One last point. You may recall from Stage 1 that けど at the end of a sentence — with nothing after it — is a softener. It trails off, leaving the conclusion unstated.

ちょっと　聞きたいことが　あるんですけど... "There's something I'd like to ask..." (trailing — implies "would that be okay?")

明日は　ちょっと　都合が　悪いんですけど... "Tomorrow is a bit inconvenient for me..." (trailing — soft refusal)

This trailing けど is one of the most important pragmatic tools in Japanese. It avoids direct statements that might cause discomfort, allowing the listener to infer the conclusion.

24.7 Reading Passage

日本語の　べんきょうに　ついて、わたしの　意見を　書きます。

わたしは　三年前に　日本語の　べんきょうを　はじめました。はじめた　きっかけは、日本の　アニメが　好きだったからです。字幕なしで　アニメが　見たいと　思って、べんきょうを　はじめることに　しました。

日本語は　むずかしいと　言う　人が　多いです。たしかに、漢字は　たいへんだし、敬語も　ふくざつです。しかし、わたしは　日本語の　べんきょうは　楽しいと　思っています。むずかしいところも　ありますが、新しい　ことばを　おぼえたり、日本語で　文を　読めるように　なったりすると、とても　うれしいです。

日本語の　文法で　一番　むずかしいのは、敬語ではないかと　思います。だれに　どの　ことばを　使えば　いいのか、はじめは　ぜんぜん　わかりませんでした。でも、毎日　少しずつ　れんしゅうすれば、だんだん　わかるように　なります。

それに、日本語が　わかると、いい　ことが　たくさん　あります。日本の　映画が　わかるし、日本人の　友だちと　話せるし、日本に　旅行した　ときも　便利です。ですから、むずかしくても、べんきょうを　続ける　かちが　あると　思います。

日本語を　べんきょうしている　人に　伝えたいのは、あきらめないで　ほしいと　いうことです。時間は　かかりますが、かならず　上手に　なります。いっしょに　がんばりましょう。

Translation:

I will write my opinion about studying Japanese.

I started studying Japanese three years ago. The reason I started was that I liked Japanese anime. I thought I wanted to watch anime without subtitles, so I decided to start studying.

Many people say Japanese is difficult. It's true — kanji are tough, and keigo is complicated. However, I believe studying Japanese is enjoyable. There are difficult parts, but when I memorize new words or become able to read sentences in Japanese, I feel very happy.

I think the most difficult part of Japanese grammar might be keigo. At first, I had no idea which words to use with whom. But if you practice a little bit every day, you gradually come to understand.

Moreover, there are many good things about understanding Japanese. You can understand Japanese movies, you can talk with Japanese friends, and it's convenient when you travel to Japan. Therefore, I think it is worth continuing to study, even if it is difficult.

What I want to tell people who are studying Japanese is: please don't give up. It takes time, but you will definitely improve. Let's do our best together.

24.8 Vocabulary List