つもり

つもり means plan to; intend to. It is a JLPT N5 Japanese grammar pattern used to talk about intentions or plans.

This grammar point appears often in beginner conversations, classroom Japanese, and JLPT-style questions. If you want to talk about intentions or plans, つもり is a useful pattern to learn because it helps you build natural basic sentences.

What does つもり mean?

Use つもり when you want to talk about intentions or plans.

Natural translations include:

• plan to
• intend to
• plan to; intend to

The exact English translation changes with context. Focus on the role of the grammar point in the sentence first, then choose the English phrase that sounds natural.

How to form つもり

Verb dictionary form / ない-form + つもり

Examples of the pattern:

• 行くつもり
• 買わないつもり
• 勉強するつもり

Pay attention to the word form before and after the pattern. Many beginner mistakes happen because the meaning is understood, but the grammar is attached to the wrong form.

When is つもり used?

Use つもり in situations like:

• future plans
• personal intentions
• explaining what you intend not to do

Tone and register:

• neutral and common
• Common in daily speech, textbook examples, and beginner JLPT questions

つもり example sentences

• 来年、日本へ行くつもりです。 — I intend to go to Japan next year.
• 今日は早く寝るつもりです。 — I plan to sleep early today.
• 新しい車は買わないつもりです。 — I do not intend to buy a new car.
• 週末に勉強するつもりです。 — I plan to study on the weekend.
• 将来、先生になるつもりです。 — I intend to become a teacher in the future.

Read the Japanese sentence first, then check the English translation. Try to notice what the grammar point contributes: question, contrast, reason, time limit, suggestion, negation, comparison, or obligation.

Nuance of つもり

The key nuance is a plan or intention held by the speaker.

This matters because beginner Japanese often uses small words and endings to show meaning that English expresses with word order or helper verbs. For つもり, the sentence can change a lot depending on placement and context.

For example:

• In conversation, it helps the listener understand a plan or intention held by the speaker.
• Compared with 予定, it has a different job even when the English translation looks close.

つもり vs 予定

Both つもり and 予定 can express related ideas, but they are different.

つもり:

• focuses on personal intention
• can be used for what someone plans to do or not do

予定:

• means schedule or plan as an arranged event
• often sounds more concrete or external

Quick contrast examples:

• 来年、日本へ行くつもりです。— I intend to go to Japan next year.
• 来年、日本へ行く予定です。— I am scheduled to go to Japan next year.

If you are unsure which one to use, ask what the sentence is trying to do: ask a question, connect ideas, show a reason, mark time, make an invitation, compare two things, or express obligation.

Common mistakes with つもり

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Using つもり for someone else’s plan without context
• Confusing intention with fixed schedule
• Forgetting の after nouns if using noun + のつもり in other patterns

A good study habit is to write one short sentence and then change only the grammar point. This makes the difference between similar patterns easier to feel.

Is つもり on the JLPT?

Yes. つもり is commonly taught as JLPT N5 grammar.

That means learners should be able to:

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

For test preparation, do not only memorize the English gloss. Practice identifying the words around the grammar point, because JLPT questions often test structure and context together.

Practice questions for つもり

Try making your own sentences with these prompts:

• Say you plan to sleep early.
• Say you do not intend to buy a car.
• Say you intend to become a teacher.

Keep the sentences short at first. Once the form feels natural, add time words, places, reasons, or contrast to make the sentence more realistic.

Learning path for つもり

Use つもり as part of your JLPT N5 desire, invitation, plan, and intention grammar toolkit. Identify whose desire or plan is being described. Then practice changing the verb or object, because these patterns often differ in whether they express wanting, deciding, going to do something, or inviting someone.

A good review order is: first make one short sentence with つもり, then compare it with にする, and finally add たい or に行く to see how the basic meaning changes.

For practice, keep the sentence short: write one example with つもり, one example with a different subject or time word, and one example that contrasts it with a related pattern below.

Related grammar to review next

• にする — connects to wanting, inviting, deciding, planning, or going to do something.
• たい — connects to wanting, inviting, deciding, planning, or going to do something.
• に行く — connects to wanting, inviting, deciding, planning, or going to do something.
• ましょう — connects to wanting, inviting, deciding, planning, or going to do something.

Learn つもり with Hane

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

Browse more lessons here:

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