# 予定だ: be scheduled to; plan to

> Learn how to use 予定だ, a JLPT N4 Japanese grammar point meaning be scheduled to; plan to, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.

JLPT level: N4 · Updated: 2026-05-17 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n4-yotei-da/

**予定だ** means **be scheduled to; plan to**. It is a **JLPT N4** Japanese grammar pattern used to express this idea in natural Japanese.

This English meaning is chosen independently from the source-list gloss so it stays natural, concise, and useful for learners searching for **予定だ**.

## What does 予定だ mean?

Use **予定だ** when you want to express **be scheduled to; plan to** in a Japanese sentence.

Natural translations include:
- be scheduled to; plan to
- be scheduled to
- plan to

## How to form 予定だ

<div class="formation">
  <div class="formula">
    <span class="ftoken t-stem">Verb (dictionary form)</span>
    <span class="fplus">+</span>
    <span class="ftoken t-core">予定だ</span>
  </div>
  <div class="formula">
    <span class="ftoken t-stem">Noun</span>
    <span class="fplus">+</span>
    <span class="ftoken t-conn">の</span>
    <span class="fplus">+</span>
    <span class="ftoken t-core">予定だ</span>
  </div>
</div>

Examples of the pattern:
- Verb dictionary form + 予定だ / noun + の予定だ
- 予定だ
- related form: つもり

## When is 予定だ used?

Use **予定だ** in situations like:
- reading or writing JLPT N4-level sentences
- making a sentence more precise than a basic N5 pattern
- recognizing natural grammar in conversation, signs, or short passages

Tone and register:
- usually neutral unless the pattern itself is casual, formal, or written
- common in JLPT N4 grammar study and everyday Japanese

## 予定だ example sentences

<div class="examples">
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp"><ruby>来週<rt>らいしゅう</rt></ruby>、<ruby>日本<rt>にほん</rt></ruby>へ<ruby>行<rt>い</rt></ruby>く<ruby>予定<rt>よてい</rt></ruby>です。</div>
    <div class="example-en">I am scheduled to go to Japan next week.</div>
    <div class="example-foot"><span class="example-tag">schedule</span></div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp"><ruby>会議<rt>かいぎ</rt></ruby>は<ruby>三時<rt>さんじ</rt></ruby>に<ruby>始<rt>はじ</rt></ruby>まる<ruby>予定<rt>よてい</rt></ruby>です。</div>
    <div class="example-en">The meeting is scheduled to start at three.</div>
    <div class="example-foot"><span class="example-tag">polite</span></div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp"><ruby>明日<rt>あした</rt></ruby>は<ruby>友達<rt>ともだち</rt></ruby>に<ruby>会<rt>あ</rt></ruby>う<ruby>予定<rt>よてい</rt></ruby>です。</div>
    <div class="example-en">I plan to meet a friend tomorrow.</div>
    <div class="example-foot"><span class="example-tag">plan</span></div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp"><ruby>旅行<rt>りょこう</rt></ruby>は<ruby>来月<rt>らいげつ</rt></ruby>の<ruby>予定<rt>よてい</rt></ruby>です。</div>
    <div class="example-en">The trip is planned for next month.</div>
    <div class="example-foot"><span class="example-tag">noun</span></div>
  </div>
  <div class="example">
    <div class="example-jp">この<ruby>仕事<rt>しごと</rt></ruby>は<ruby>今日<rt>きょう</rt></ruby><ruby>終<rt>お</rt></ruby>わる<ruby>予定<rt>よてい</rt></ruby>です。</div>
    <div class="example-en">This work is scheduled to finish today.</div>
    <div class="example-foot"><span class="example-tag">work</span></div>
  </div>
</div>

## Nuance of 予定だ

The key nuance is **be scheduled to; plan to in context**, not a word-for-word English replacement.

This matters because **予定だ** can express ability, comparison, intention, appearance, effort, or difficulty depending on the surrounding sentence. Read the whole sentence before choosing the English translation.

## 予定だ vs つもり

Both patterns can appear in related sentences, but they do different jobs.

<div class="compare">
  <div class="cmp a">
    <div class="cmp-head">予定だ</div>
    <div class="cmp-sub">be scheduled to; plan to</div>
    <div class="cmp-when">The target JLPT N4 pattern that focuses on a fixed schedule or arrangement.</div>
    <div class="cmp-eg"><ruby>来週<rt>らいしゅう</rt></ruby>、<ruby>日本<rt>にほん</rt></ruby>へ<ruby>行<rt>い</rt></ruby>く<ruby>予定<rt>よてい</rt></ruby>です。</div>
    <div class="cmp-eg-en">I am scheduled to go to Japan next week.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="vs">vs</div>
  <div class="cmp b">
    <div class="cmp-head">つもり</div>
    <div class="cmp-sub">intend to; plan to</div>
    <div class="cmp-when">Useful for comparison because learners often confuse nearby forms; may change the tone, direction, evidence, or sentence focus.</div>
  </div>
</div>

Quick contrast examples:
- Target pattern: <ruby>来週<rt>らいしゅう</rt></ruby>、<ruby>日本<rt>にほん</rt></ruby>へ<ruby>行<rt>い</rt></ruby>く<ruby>予定<rt>よてい</rt></ruby>です。 — I am scheduled to go to Japan next week.
- Related pattern with **つもり**: compare what changes in difficulty, comparison, intention, appearance, or certainty.

## Common mistakes with 予定だ

<div class="mistakes">
  <div class="mistake">
    <div class="mline">
      <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
      <div class="mline-body">Copying a dictionary gloss without checking the sentence context</div>
    </div>
    <div class="mline">
      <span class="mark good">✅</span>
      <div class="mline-body">Read the whole sentence before choosing the English translation</div>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="mistake">
    <div class="mline">
      <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
      <div class="mline-body">Using the wrong verb, adjective, or noun form</div>
    </div>
    <div class="mline">
      <span class="mark good">✅</span>
      <div class="mline-body">Attach the dictionary form of the verb or a noun with の before 予定だ</div>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div class="mistake">
    <div class="mline">
      <span class="mark bad">❌</span>
      <div class="mline-body">Confusing <strong>予定だ</strong> with <strong>つもり</strong> because the English can sound similar</div>
    </div>
    <div class="mline">
      <span class="mark good">✅</span>
      <div class="mline-body">Choose 予定だ for scheduled arrangements and つもり for personal intention</div>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

## Is 予定だ on the JLPT?

<div class="jlpt-card">
  <div class="jlpt-shield">N4</div>
  <div class="jlpt-info">
    <p>Yes. <strong>予定だ</strong> is connected to <strong>JLPT N4</strong> grammar in this blog.</p>
    <div class="jlpt-checks">
      <ul>
        <li>recognize it in reading</li>
        <li>understand its nuance in context</li>
        <li>use it in simple original sentences</li>
      </ul>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

## Practice questions for 予定だ

<div class="prompts">
  <div class="prompt">
    <span class="prompt-num">1</span>
    <span class="prompt-text">Write one short sentence using the basic structure.</span>
    <span class="prompt-tag">basic</span>
  </div>
  <div class="prompt">
    <span class="prompt-num">2</span>
    <span class="prompt-text">Replace the subject, time, or object and keep the same grammar point.</span>
    <span class="prompt-tag">variation</span>
  </div>
  <div class="prompt">
    <span class="prompt-num">3</span>
    <span class="prompt-text">Compare your sentence with the related pattern above.</span>
    <span class="prompt-tag">compare</span>
  </div>
</div>

## Learning path for 予定だ

<div class="path">
  <div class="path-step">
    <span class="step-num">1</span>
    <div class="step-body">Write one sentence that uses <strong>予定だ</strong> in its most literal meaning.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="path-step">
    <span class="step-num">2</span>
    <div class="step-body">Write a second sentence that changes the subject or time expression.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="path-step">
    <span class="step-num">3</span>
    <div class="step-body">Compare <strong>予定だ</strong> with <a href="/blog/n4-ni-suru/">にする</a> and notice how the nuance changes.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="path-step">
    <span class="step-num">4</span>
    <div class="step-body">Contrast it with <a href="/blog/n4-ku-suru/">くする</a> or <a href="/blog/n4-you-to-omou/">ようと思う</a>.</div>
  </div>
  <div class="path-step">
    <span class="step-num">5</span>
    <div class="step-body">Write a final sentence that contrasts <strong>予定だ</strong> with one of the related patterns below.</div>
  </div>
</div>

## Related grammar to review next

- [にする](/blog/n4-ni-suru/) — connects to change, decision, planning, or effort over time.
- [くする](/blog/n4-ku-suru/) — connects to change, decision, planning, or effort over time.
- [ようと思う](/blog/n4-you-to-omou/) — connects to change, decision, planning, or effort over time.
- [意向形](/blog/n4-ikou-kei/) — connects to change, decision, planning, or effort over time.

## Learn 予定だ with Hane

If you want to review **予定だ** together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:
- [All grammar lessons](/blog/)
- [JLPT N4 grammar lessons](/blog/n4/)