modality N1 uncommon written
〜ものと思われる — it is presumed / believed that ~
〜ものと思われる ・ ものとおもわれる
Builds on もの
Meaning
- it is presumed/believed that ~ / ~ is thought to be the case — an impersonal, objective inference
The passive 思われる makes the assumption impersonal: not 'I think' but 'it is presumed', as if the conclusion arises on its own from the evidence. ものと combines with it to present a careful, default inference in formal writing. 事故は整備不良が原因ものと思われる ('the accident is presumed to have been caused by poor maintenance'). The staple of reports, news, and academic prose where the writer avoids the first person.
Key sentence
犯人はこの付近に潜伏しているものと思われる。
The suspect is believed to be hiding somewhere in this vicinity.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb / adjective (plain); Noun + である | V/A(plain) + ものと思われる | 増える → 増えるものと思われる |
When: Formal written register — reports, news, research. Presents a measured inference without naming who holds it.
Examples
今後も需要は拡大するものと思われる。
Demand is expected to keep expanding from here on.
被害はさらに広がるものと思われます。
The damage is presumed likely to spread further.
Easily confused with
〜ものと思う ものと思う is the speaker's *own* assumption (active 'I assume'); ものと思われる is the impersonal passive 'it is presumed', objective and writer-removed. 〜と考えられる Near-synonyms in formal inference. と考えられる stresses a *reasoned* conclusion ('it can be concluded'); ものと思われる leans on it being the natural/presumed reading of the evidence.
Notes
- Interchangeable with 〜ものと考えられる in most reports; 思われる is slightly softer, 考えられる slightly more analytical.
See 〜ものと思われる in real sentences
Jengo shows 〜ものと思われる the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled from published Japanese grammar references.