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Japanese

ちえをしぼる
Meaning: to rack one’s brain; to think hard
Part of Speech: Verb, Idiom

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Verb inflections

Verb inflections
Form Affirmative Negative
Present 知恵を絞る 知恵を絞らない
Polite 知恵を絞ります 知恵を絞りません
Past 知恵を絞った 知恵を絞らなかった
Polite + Past 知恵を絞りました 知恵を絞りませんでした
Te-form 知恵を絞って 知恵を絞らなくて
Potential 知恵を絞れる 知恵を絞れない
Passive 知恵を絞られる 知恵を絞られない
Causative 知恵を絞らせる 知恵を絞らせない
Causative + Passive 知恵を絞らされる 知恵を絞らされない
Imperative 知恵を絞れ 知恵を絞るな

Example

難しい問題ほど、みんなで知恵を絞る必要がある。
The more difficult the problem is, the more we need to put our heads together.

Usage Notes

Used when people make a serious effort to find a solution, often by thinking creatively together.

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