ようと思う (you to omou) – Meaning & Usage

ようと思う means be thinking of doing. 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 ようと思う.

ようと思う turns the volitional form into a personal intention: "I'm thinking of doing ~."

What does ようと思う mean?

Use ようと思う when you want to express be thinking of doing in a Japanese sentence.

Natural translations include:

be thinking of doing
to express “be thinking of doing” naturally
the closest natural meaning in context

How to form ようと思う

Attach と思う to the volitional form of a verb.

Verb (volitional) + と思う

Examples of the pattern:

Volitional form + と思う
ようと思う
related form: つもり

When is ようと思う used?

Use ようと思う 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

ようと思う example sentences

週末(しゅうまつ)に映画(えいが)を見(み)ようと思(おも)います。

I am thinking of watching a movie this weekend.

Polite

来年(らいねん)、日本(にほん)へ行(い)こうと思(おも)っています。

I am thinking of going to Japan next year.

Ongoing intention

今日(きょう)は早(はや)く寝(ね)ようと思(おも)います。

I think I will go to bed early today.

Immediate plan

新(あたら)しい仕事(しごと)を探(さが)そうと思(おも)っています。

I am thinking of looking for a new job.

Polite Ongoing

先生(せんせい)に聞(き)いてみようと思(おも)います。

I think I will try asking the teacher.

Tentative

After reading each sentence, ask what job ようと思う is doing: expressing that the speaker is thinking of doing something.

Nuance of ようと思う

The key nuance is be thinking of doing in context, not a word-for-word English replacement.

This matters because ようと思う can express ability, comparison, intention, appearance, effort, or difficulty depending on the surrounding sentence. Read the whole sentence before choosing the English translation.

💡

Because よう appears in several grammar patterns, always check the particle that follows it before deciding on the meaning.

ようと思う vs つもり

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

ようと思う

Focuses on "be thinking of doing."

Use when expressing a current, personal intention.

来年(らいねん)、日本(にほん)へ行(い)こうと思(おも)っています。

I am thinking of going to Japan next year.

つもり

Indicates a plan; may change the tone, direction, evidence, or sentence focus.

Use when stating a stronger or more definite intention.

Quick contrast examples:

Target pattern: 週末(しゅうまつ)に映画(えいが)を見(み)ようと思(おも)います。 — I am thinking of watching a movie this weekend.
Related pattern with つもり: compare what changes in difficulty, comparison, intention, appearance, or certainty.

Common mistakes with ようと思う

❌

Copying a dictionary gloss without checking the sentence context.

✅

Read the whole sentence to confirm ようと思う marks intention before translating.

❌

Using the wrong verb, adjective, or noun form.

✅

Attach と思う only to the volitional form of verbs.

❌

Confusing ようと思う with つもり because the English can sound similar.

✅

Remember that ようと思う is softer ("thinking of") while つもり is closer to "plan to."

A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with ようと思う, then rewrite it with つもり.

Is ようと思う on the JLPT?

ようと思う is tested on the JLPT N4.

Recognize the volitional + と思う formation in reading

Understand the nuance of a tentative intention

Use it in simple original sentences

Practice questions for ようと思う

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. Comparison

Learning path for ようと思う

Use ようと思う as part of your JLPT N4 change, decision, and intention grammar toolkit. Track who controls the change or decision in ようと思う. Some patterns show natural change, some show personal effort, and others show a decision made by someone or by circumstances.

Make one short sentence with ようと思う using a verb you use often.

Compare it with 予定だ and notice the difference in certainty.

Add ぜひ or ようになる to see how the nuance changes.

Rewrite the sentence with a different subject or time expression.

Contrast it with ようにする or つもり to sharpen your intuition.

For practice, write one sentence that uses ようと思う in its most literal meaning, one sentence that changes the subject or time expression, and one sentence that contrasts it with one of the related patterns below.

予定だ — be scheduled to; plan to.
ぜひ — definitely; by all means.
ようになる — come to be able to; start to.
ようにする — make sure to; try to.

Browse more lessons here:

Learn ようと思う with Hane

If you want to review ようと思う together with intention and planning patterns, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.

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FAQ about ようと思う

What does ようと思う (you to omou) mean in Japanese?

ようと思う (you to omou) means “be thinking of doing”. It is JLPT N4 grammar. Use ようと思う when you want to express be thinking of doing in a Japanese sentence.

How do you form ようと思う (you to omou)?

Attach と思う to the volitional form of a verb.

What is the difference between ようと思う and つもり?

ようと思う: Focuses on "be thinking of doing.". つもり: Indicates a plan; may change the tone, direction, evidence, or sentence focus.

What is an example sentence with ようと思う (you to omou)?

週末に映画を見ようと思います。 — I am thinking of watching a movie this weekend.