予定だ (yotei da) – Meaning & Usage

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

Verb (dictionary form) + 予定だ

Noun + の + 予定だ

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

来週(らいしゅう)、日本(にほん)へ行(い)く予定(よてい)です。

I am scheduled to go to Japan next week.

schedule

会議(かいぎ)は三時(さんじ)に始(はじ)まる予定(よてい)です。

The meeting is scheduled to start at three.

polite

明日(あした)は友達(ともだち)に会(あ)う予定(よてい)です。

I plan to meet a friend tomorrow.

plan

旅行(りょこう)は来月(らいげつ)の予定(よてい)です。

The trip is planned for next month.

noun

この仕事(しごと)は今日(きょう)終(お)わる予定(よてい)です。

This work is scheduled to finish today.

work

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.

予定だ

be scheduled to; plan to

The target JLPT N4 pattern that focuses on a fixed schedule or arrangement.

来週(らいしゅう)、日本(にほん)へ行(い)く予定(よてい)です。

I am scheduled to go to Japan next week.

つもり

intend to; plan to

Useful for comparison because learners often confuse nearby forms; may change the tone, direction, evidence, or sentence focus.

Quick contrast examples:

Target pattern: 来週(らいしゅう)、日本(にほん)へ行(い)く予定(よてい)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

❌

Copying a dictionary gloss without checking the sentence context

✅

Read the whole sentence before choosing the English translation

❌

Using the wrong verb, adjective, or noun form

✅

Attach the dictionary form of the verb or a noun with の before 予定だ

❌

Confusing 予定だ with つもり because the English can sound similar

✅

Choose 予定だ for scheduled arrangements and つもり for personal intention

Is 予定だ on the JLPT?

Yes. 予定だ is connected to JLPT N4 grammar in this blog.

recognize it in reading
understand its nuance in context
use it in simple original sentences

Practice questions for 予定だ

1 Write one short sentence using the basic structure. basic

2 Replace the subject, time, or object and keep the same grammar point. variation

3 Compare your sentence with the related pattern above. compare

Learning path for 予定だ

Write one sentence that uses 予定だ in its most literal meaning.

Write a second sentence that changes the subject or time expression.

Compare 予定だ with にする and notice how the nuance changes.

Contrast it with くする or ようと思う.

Write a final sentence that contrasts 予定だ with one of the related patterns below.

にする — make something become.
くする — make something become.
ようと思う — be thinking of doing.
意向形 — the volitional form; let’s do.

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:

FAQ about 予定だ

What does 予定だ (yotei da) mean in Japanese?

予定だ (yotei da) means “be scheduled to; plan to”. It is JLPT N4 grammar. Use 予定だ when you want to express be scheduled to; plan to in a Japanese sentence.

How do you form 予定だ (yotei da)?

Verb (dictionary form) + 予定だ Noun + の + 予定だ

What is the difference between 予定だ and つもり?

予定だ: be scheduled to; plan to. つもり: intend to; plan to.

What is an example sentence with 予定だ (yotei da)?

来週、日本へ行く予定です。 — I am scheduled to go to Japan next week.