How to Say ‘I thought it was going in.’ in Japanese
入るかと思った。
hairu ka to omotsu ta
[ha-ee-roo ka to oh-moht ta]
💬 Usage Tip: A classic close-call phrase. Literally, '[I] thought it would go in.' In conversation, the subject is omitted, which is very natural in Japanese.
🇯🇵 In Japan: During big matches like the World Cup, people often shout this together after a near goal. It captures that shared 'No way, that was so close!' feeling.
Phrase Breakdown
入る
hairu
[ha-ee-roo]
to go in; to enter; to score
In soccer, this means the ball looked like it was going into the goal.
あのシュートは入るかと思った。
I thought that shot was going in.
かと思った
ka to omotsu ta
I thought that; it seemed like; I was under the impression that
This pattern expresses a momentary assumption or impression, often later corrected or surprised.
雨が降るかと思った。
I thought it was going to rain.
Words in this phrase
か
ka
[ka]
whether; if
Used in this expression to show uncertainty: 'I thought maybe it would...'.
ボールが入るかと思った。
I thought the ball might go in.
と
to
[to]
quoting particle
Connects the content of the thought to the verb 'thought'.
ゴールだとまでは言わないけど、入るかと思った。
I wouldn't say it was definitely a goal, but I thought it might go in.
思っ
omotsu
[oh-moht]
thought
Shows the speaker's reaction at that moment: 'thought'.
観客も入るかと思った。
The spectators also thought it would go in.
た
ta
[ta]
past tense marker
Marks the thought as something that happened in that instant.
一瞬、入るかと思った。
For a moment, I thought it would go in.
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Custom Scenarios
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
Get Full LessonWhat Learners Are Saying
“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”
Mia S., 25, English Teacher
“Moved to Tokyo and the polite vs. casual speech levels were killing me. This app breaks it all down with real scenarios. My coworkers noticed the difference in weeks.”
Kevin Z., 31, Game Developer
“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”
Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager