The Difference Between 覚える(おぼえる) and 思い出す(おもいだす): “Remember” in Japanese

When learning Japanese, it’s easy to get confused by words that have similar meanings but are used in different contexts. A common pair of words that can confuse beginners is 覚える (“oboeru”) and 思い出す (“omoidasu”). Both of these verbs are often translated as “remember” in English, but they have different uses and meanings in Japanese. In this blog post, we’ll break down the difference between these two verbs to help you use them correctly in your conversations.

覚おぼえる (Oboeru)

覚おぼえる (“oboeru”) means “to memorize,” or “to retain information in your mind.” It’s used when you are in the process of learning something new, committing it to memory, or trying to remember something you’ve just learned. Essentially, 覚おぼえる is used when you want to actively retain or memorize new information.

Think of 覚おぼえる as the act of putting something into your memory. You use it when you’re studying vocabulary, learning new skills, or committing someone’s name to memory. It’s often used in situations involving learning and memory storage.

Example sentences:

1. 新あたらしい言葉ことばを覚おぼえるのは大変たいへんです。
   • (atarashii kotoba o oboeru no wa taihen desu.)
   • “Remembering new words is difficult.”
2. 彼女かのじょの名前なまえを覚おぼえました。
   • (Kanojo no namae o oboemashita.)
   • “I remembered her name.”
3. これをどうやって作つくるか覚おぼえてください。
   • (Kore o dou yatte tsukuru ka oboete kudasai.)
   • “Please remember how to make this.”

In these examples, 覚おぼえる is used to express the idea of memorizing or learning something new.

思おもい出だす (Omoidasu)

思おもい出だす (“omoidasu”) means “to recall” or “to bring back to mind.” It is used when you want to say that you are actively trying to recall something from your memory. 思おもい出だす is more about pulling out information that’s already stored in your memory, something you have learned or experienced before.

Think of 思い出す as retrieving a memory that is already there. You use it when you’re trying to recall an event from the past, such as a childhood memory, something you forgot, or someone’s name that suddenly comes to mind.

Examples of 思おもい出だす (Omoidasu)

1. こどもの時ときのことを思おもい出だしました。
   • (Kodomo no toki no koto o omoidashita.)
   • “I remembered something from my childhood.”
2. 彼かれの名前なまえを思おもい出だすことができませんでした。
   • (Kare no namae o omoidasu koto ga dekimasen.)
   • “I can’t remember his name.”
3. 久ひさしぶりに友達ともだちに会あって、昔むかしのことをたくさん思おもい出だしました。
   • (Hisashiburi ni tomodachi ni atte, mukashi no koto o takusan omoidashita.)
   • “I met an old friend, and it brought back many memories from the past.”

In these examples, 思おもい出だす is used to express recalling something that was already in the memory but not actively thought of at that moment.

Key Differences Between 覚おぼえる and 思おもい出だす

1. Action vs. Recall
   • 覚おぼえる (oboeru) is about the action of learning, memorizing, or retaining information. It’s the process of putting something into your memory.
   • 思おもい出だす (omoidasu) is about recalling, remembering, or retrieving information that is already stored in your memory.
2. When to Use Each Word
   • Use 覚おぼえる when you are talking about learning something new, trying to commit something to memory, or getting information into your head.
   • Use 思おもい出だす when you are trying to recall something from the past, such as a memory, someone’s name, or an experience.

Visualizing the Difference

To help visualize the difference between these two verbs, think about your brain as a library. When you use 覚おぼえる (“oboeru”), you are adding a new book to the library shelves—storing new information in your memory. When you use 思おもい出だす (“omoidasu”), you are finding that book on the shelf and pulling it out to read again—retrieving information from your memory.

Practice Exercises

Here are some practice exercises. Try filling in the blanks with either 覚える or 思い出す in the following sentences:

1. 母ははの顔かおを＿＿＿＿＿＿。
   • (Haha no kao o __________.)
   • “I remember my mother’s face.”
2. 新あたらしい漢字かんじを＿＿＿＿。
   • (Atarashii kanji o __________.)
   • “I will memorize the new kanji.”
3. 昨日きのうのことを＿＿＿＿＿＿＿。
   • (Kinoo no koto o __________.)
   • “I remembered what happened yesterday.”

Answers:

1. 思おもい出だします (omoidasu)
2. 覚おぼえます (oboeru)
3. 思おもい出だしました (omoidashimashita)

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between 覚おぼえる (“oboeru”) and 思おもい出だす (“omoidasu”) can greatly improve your ability to express yourself in Japanese. Remember that 覚おぼえる is about actively learning and memorizing, while 思おもい出だす is about recalling information from your memory. By practicing these verbs in different contexts, you will gradually become more comfortable using them appropriately.

Don’t worry if you mix them up at first! With time and practice, it will become more natural to use these verbs correctly. Keep studying, keep practicing, and you’ll be amazed at how much you’ll improve. 一緒いっしょに頑張がんばりましょう (isshoni gambarimashoo) – Let’s try our best together!