つもり

Intend to

Level 2Sounds Like tsumori

Use つもり to talk about what you intend to do. It represents a decision you have already made in your mind.

How It Works

つもり is a versatile expression used to describe internal states of mind regarding actions.

1. Expressing Future Intentions
To express a pre-planned intention or resolve, use the Dictionary Form of a volitional verb (a verb of conscious action) + つもり + です/だ. Note that non-volitional verbs (like 降る) or potential verbs cannot be used to express future intention. For direct statements, this is used for your own intentions and cannot be used for spontaneous decisions made on the spot. This is stronger than たい (wanting) because it implies a settled decision. While つもり expresses a subjective, personal intention, 予定 is used for objective, scheduled plans or external arrangements.

  • 来年（らいねん）、日本（にほん）へ行（い）くつもりです。(I intend to go to Japan next year.)

To express a current, ongoing plan, you can use 〜つもりでいる:

  • 留学（りゅうがく）するつもりでいます。(I am planning to study abroad.)

While direct statements with つもりです are for the first person, you can use it for the second person in questions (though it should not be used with superiors, as it sounds accusatory). For the third person, you can use 〜つもりでいる (which objectifies the internal state), or use quotes like と言っていました or evidentials like らしい.

  • 何（なに）をするつもりですか。(What do you intend to do?)
  • 彼（かれ）は留学（りゅうがく）するつもりでいます。(He is planning to study abroad.)

2. Negative Intentions
There are two ways to express a negative intention:

  • Verb (Nai-form) + つもり: 'I intend not to do X.' (Active avoidance)
  • Verb (Dictionary Form) + つもりはない / つもりはありません: 'I have no intention of doing X.' (Stronger negation)

3. Unfulfilled Intentions (つもりだった)
Using the past tense つもりでした or つもりだった indicates an intention you had in the past that was not realized or changed.

  • 昨日（きのう）勉強（べんきょう）するつもりでしたが、寝（ね）てしまいました。(I intended to study yesterday, but I ended up sleeping.)

4. Subjective Belief and Nouns
Because つもり is grammatically a noun, it connects to other words using standard Noun Modification rules. When used with the Ta-form, Te-iru form, い-adjectives, な-adjectives (+ な), or Noun + の, it describes what you believe to be true, even if reality differs. Note that while potential verbs cannot be used for future intentions, they can be used here to express subjective belief.

  • 英語（えいご）が話（はな）せるつもりだ。(I believe I can speak English.)
  • 冗談（じょうだん）のつもりでしたが、彼（かれ）は怒（おこ）りました。(It was meant as a joke, but he got angry.)
  • 鍵（かぎ）をかけたつもりでしたが、開（あ）いていました。(I was sure I locked it, but it was open.)
  • 頑張（がんば）っているつもりです。(I believe I am doing my best.)

To express that you have no memory or belief of doing something, or didn't mean to do it, use 〜たつもりはない / つもりはありません:

  • そんなことを言（い）ったつもりはありません。(I have no memory of saying such a thing / I didn't mean to say that.)

5. Adverbial Usage (つもりで)
Using つもりで can express 'with the mindset of' or 'acting as if.'

  • Verb (Dictionary Form) + つもりで: 'With the intention/mindset of doing X.'
    死（し）ぬつもりで頑張（がんば）ります。(I will work hard as if my life depends on it.)
  • Verb (Ta-form) + つもりで: 'Acting as if X' or 'Pretending X.'
    旅行（りょこう）したつもりで貯金（ちょきん）します。(I will save money by acting as if I went on a trip.)

Examples (4)

  1. 大学（だいがく）を卒業（そつぎょう）したら、先生（せんせい）になるつもりです。

    I intend to become a teacher after I graduate from university.

    Word by Word: University (object) graduate after, teacher become intention is.

    The dictionary form なる (to become) is followed by つもり to show a firm future goal.

  2. 今日（きょう）は、お酒（さけ）を飲（の）まないつもりだ。

    I intend not to drink alcohol today.

    Word by Word: Today (topic), alcohol (object) drink-not intention is.

    Using the negative 飲まない (not drink) shows a conscious decision to avoid the action.

  3. 冗談（じょうだん）で言（い）ったつもりだったが、彼（かれ）を怒（おこ）らせてしまった。

    I intended it as a joke, but I ended up making him angry.

    Word by Word: Joke by said intention was but, him (object) make-angry (regret).

    The past tense 言った (said) + つもり shows the speaker's subjective interpretation of their own words.

  4. そんなことをするつもりは全（ぜん）然（ぜん）ありません。

    I have absolutely no intention of doing such a thing.

    Word by Word: That kind of thing (object) do intention (topic) at all there is not.

    Using つもりはない (or the polite つもりはありません) creates a very strong, definitive refusal.

Common Mistakes

  • Directly stating other people's intentions using つもりです.

    田中（たなか）さんは明日（あした）休（やす）むつもりです。
    田中さんは明日休むつもりでいます。

    In Japanese, you cannot directly state the internal thoughts or intentions of a third party using the simple つもりです. To describe a third party's plans, you must use 〜つもりでいる (which objectifies the internal state into an observable condition), evidentials like らしい (seems), or quote them using と言っている (says that).

  • Asking a superior about their intentions using つもりですか。

    先生（せんせい）、明日は何（なに）を食（た）べるつもりですか。
    先生、明日は何を召（め）し上（あ）がる予定（よてい）ですか。

    Asking a superior or teacher 'つもりですか' can sound accusatory or rude, as if you are questioning their resolve. When asking about a superior's plans, use 予定 (plan) or honorifics instead.

  • Using つもり for decisions made at the moment of speaking.

    （レストランで）カレーを食（た）べるつもりです。
    （レストランで）カレーにします。

    つもり is only for pre-planned intentions. For spontaneous decisions made on the spot, such as ordering at a restaurant, you cannot use つもり. Instead, use にします or ことにする.

How It Connects

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

つもりLevel 2Intend to

Learn This First

To use 'つもり', you need to understand how to modify a noun with a verb (dictionary form) and how to end the sentence with a copula like 'です' or 'だ'.

Words in This Pattern