Have you heard of "ひらめく", "思いつく" or "考えつく"?
[hirameku][omoitsuku][kangaetsuku]
They are verbs that mean "to come to mind". They are used to describe that you have come up with something.
"ひらめく" is used when you say something off the top of your head.
"思いつく" is used when you say something without thinking thoroughly about it.
"考えつく" is used when you say something after having thought more thoroughly about it.
When it comes to the time you need to think of something, "ひらめく" comes first, followed by "思いつく" , and finally, "考えつく".
They are interchangeable depending on the context. Especially, "思いつく" is interchangeable most of the time with "ひらめく"and "考えつく".
- Meg: I want to surprise Kate but I'm running out of ideas.
ケイトを驚かせたいんだけど、何も(アイディアが)思いつかない(orひらめかないor考えつかない)。
Amy: Hey, it hit me! Why don't we take her to her favorite musician's concert?
ねぇ、ひらめいた(or思いついた)よ!彼女の好きなミュージシャンのコンサートに連れて行かない?
Meg: Oh, that's great! Let's check his concert schedule.
いいね!スケジュールを見てみようよ。
- Ken: How are we going to explain the reason we blew off class?
サボった理由は、どう説明すればいい?
Leo: Hmm, I've just come up with a really good reason. You caught a cold and then I caught it from you.
うーん、良い言い訳を思いついた(orひらめいた)。ケンが風邪をひいて、それが僕にうつった。
Ken: Are you serious? It's been hot these days. How would it have happened?
マジ?最近暑いじゃん。どうしたら、そうなるんだよ?
Leo: (Sigh) Let me think a little.....Hmm, that's all I can think of right now.
ちょっと考えさせてよ...うーん、今考えつく(or思いつく)のはそれくらいだよ。