คิดว่า

I Think That

Level 3

Use คิดว่า (khít wâa) to say "I think that..." or to express a subjective opinion. It combines the verb คิด (to think) with the linker ว่า (that).

How It Works

คิดว่า introduces the content of a thought: คิด means think, and ว่า links it to the following clause.

1. Find The Thought
ผมคิดว่าภาษาไทยไม่ยากครับ says that the speaker thinks Thai is not difficult. คุณคิดว่าเขาจะมาไหม asks what the listener thinks about his coming. The question is about a belief or estimate, not proof that he will come.

2. Read The Person And Time From Context
คิดว่าน่าจะดีนะ leaves the thinker unstated. The English supplies “I” as a contextual reading. In เราคิดว่าอันนี้สวยกว่า, เรา can be read as a group or as the speaker alone in a suitable familiar context; the selected English uses the latter. คิด does not change its form between the displayed opinions. Use the whole conversation to establish when a belief was held and whose belief it is.

3. Practise The Linked Clause
For the intended evaluation “I think it is good,” the card selects ผมคิดว่าดี. This uses ว่า to introduce ดี as the thought. It is not a rule that every use of คิด must be followed by ว่า. Compare the pronouns ผม and ฉัน in their own examples.

4. Keep Different Thinking Expressions Separate
คิดถึง means think of or miss; คิดเกี่ยวกับ concerns thinking about a topic. The second card selects ผมคิดถึงคุณ for “I miss you.” คิดว่า introduces what someone thinks. A belief can be mistaken; do not infer its truth merely from this expression.

Examples (4)

  1. ผมคิดว่าภาษาไทยไม่ยากครับ

    I think that the Thai language is not difficult.

    Word by Word: I + think + that + language + Thai + not + difficult + [polite]

    A standard sentence using a subject and a polite particle.

  2. คุณคิดว่าเขาจะมาไหม?

    Do you think he will come?

    Word by Word: You + think + that + he + will + come + [question]

    Using the pattern to ask for someone else's opinion.

  3. คิดว่าน่าจะดีนะ

    (I) think it should be good.

    Word by Word: Think + that + should + be + good + [softener]

    The subject 'I' is left out because the listener can tell who is speaking.

  4. เราคิดว่าอันนี้สวยกว่า

    I think this one is more beautiful.

    Word by Word: I + think + that + this one + beautiful + more

    This compares two things. เรา can refer to a group or, in a suitable familiar context, to the speaker alone. The English uses that singular reading.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting 'ว่า' (wâa) when you mean to introduce an opinion clause.

    ผมคิดดี
    ผมคิดว่าดี

    For the intended meaning 'I think it is good', use 'ว่า' to link the thinking verb to the opinion. The first sentence, 'ผมคิดดี', can instead describe thinking well or having good thoughts; it does not clearly express that intended evaluation.

  • Using 'คิดว่า' to mean 'thinking about someone'.

    ผมคิดว่าคุณ
    ผมคิดถึงคุณ

    To mean 'I miss you' or 'I am thinking of you', 'คิดถึง' is the usual choice in this pair. 'คิดว่า' introduces the content of a thought, so a person alone is not a complete opinion clause in this sentence.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

คิดว่าLevel 3I Think That

Learn This First

To use 'คิดว่า' (I think that), you need to understand how to link a verb to a sub-clause using 'ว่า'. You also need a grasp of basic sentence structure and how adjectives can follow the pattern directly without needing an extra 'to be' verb.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

คิดว่าคิดว่า