つもり (tsumori) means “intend to” / “plan to”. You put it after a verb in dictionary form: 来年、日本へ行くつもりです = “I intend to go to Japan next year.” It is JLPT N5 grammar for talking about decisions you have already made in your own head.
つもり is about what's in your head. You've decided, even if nothing is booked yet. That's what separates it from たい (just a wish) and 予定 (a fixed schedule).
What does つもり mean?
つもり is a noun meaning “intention.” When you put a verb in front of it, you describe the content of that intention: 行くつもり = “the intention to go.” Adding です makes it a full sentence.
Natural English renderings:
- I intend to …
- I plan to … / I’m planning to …
- I’m going to … (when it’s a decision, not a prediction)
Because it describes something inside the speaker’s mind, つもり is mostly used about yourself. You can ask about another person’s intentions, but you can’t simply state them. You’d need to say they told you: 田中さんは帰るつもりだと言っていました.
How to form つもり
- 行く → 行くつもりです (I intend to go)
- 買う → 買わないつもりです (I intend not to buy)
- 勉強する → 勉強するつもりです (I plan to study)
Never use the ます-form before つもり. Politeness goes at the end: つもりです (polite), つもりだ (plain), or just つもり in casual speech.
To ask, add か: 夏休みはどうするつもりですか (“What are you planning to do over summer break?”).
When is つもり used?
Use つもり to announce your plans: trips, purchases, study goals, New Year’s resolutions. It sounds deliberate. You’ve thought about it and decided.
The negative ないつもりです is how you announce a decision not to do something: quitting a habit, skipping an event, not buying something. It’s firmer than simply saying you don’t want to.
You can ask friends and classmates about their plans with つもりですか. With teachers, bosses, or customers, asking about their “intention” can sound too direct, like you’re questioning their motives. Use 予定 instead: 明日のご予定は？
つもり example sentences
来年、日本へ行くつもりです。
I'm planning to go to Japan next year.
夏休みは国に帰るつもりです。
I intend to go back to my home country over summer break.
もうたばこは吸わないつもりです。
I don't plan to smoke anymore.
A：明日のパーティーに行くつもりですか。 B：いいえ、行かないつもりです。
A: Are you going to the party tomorrow? B: No, I'm not planning to go.
週末は家でゆっくり休むつもりです。
I'm going to take it easy at home this weekend.
今晩は早く寝るつもり。
I'm going to bed early tonight.
In example 4, B repeats the pattern in the negative instead of just saying いいえ. That makes the answer sound decided, not just unwilling.
Nuance of つもり
つもり marks a decision that’s been made but may not be arranged yet. You intend to go to Japan, but you might not have a ticket. That puts it in the middle of a scale:
- 〜たい: a wish (“I want to go”)
- 〜つもり: a decision (“I intend to go”)
- 〜予定: an arrangement (“I’m scheduled to go”)
Because it is personal, つもり can sound quite strong in some contexts. 行かないつもりです is a clear refusal. The very strong つもりはない (“I have no intention of…”) sounds even more decisive and can come across as cold, so learners should use it with care.
The past form つもりでした usually means the plan didn’t happen: 行くつもりでしたが、行けませんでした (“I meant to go, but couldn’t”). That use is covered at N3 in つもりだった.
People, not weather: つもり needs someone who can decide. Rain, trains, and prices don't have intentions, so 雨が降るつもりです is wrong. Use でしょう for predictions.
つもり vs 予定
With つもり, the listener hears “I’ve decided.” With 予定, they hear “it’s arranged.” The date is set, the truck is booked. 予定 also works for things that aren’t people (電車は十時に着く予定です), which つもり cannot do. See the full lesson on 予定だ.
Common mistakes with つもり
The verb before つもり must be in dictionary (plain) form. Politeness goes on です at the end.
つもり is a person's intention. For predictions about things nobody controls, use でしょう.
たい (wish) and つもり (decision) don't stack. Pick the one that matches how sure you are.
Is つもり on the JLPT?
Yes. つもり is taught at N5 and appears through N4, where the negative and past forms get more attention.
- Form questions: choose the dictionary form (行く) or ない-form (行かない) before つもり.
- Listening: a speaker saying 〜ないつもりです is announcing a decision. Answer choices often test whether the person will actually do the thing.
- Reading: short notes about holiday plans use つもり, たい, and 予定 side by side.
Practice questions for つもり
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今年は毎日日本語を勉強するつもりです。 — This year I plan to study Japanese every day.
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もう甘いものは食べないつもりです。 — I'm not going to eat sweets anymore.
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日曜日は何をするつもりですか。 — What are you planning to do on Sunday?
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新しい靴を買うつもりです。 — I'm planning to buy new shoes.
Learning path for つもり
Related grammar to review next
- たい: a wish, one step weaker than つもり’s decision.
- 予定だ: a fixed schedule, one step more certain, and also usable for trains and events.
- ようと思う: “I’m thinking of doing,” the softer way to share an intention.
- つもりだった: the past form, for plans that didn’t work out.
- ましょう: for plans you make together with someone, not alone.
Learn つもり with Hane
Hane has you talk about real plans with つもり, then sort them against たい and 予定 so you pick the right level of certainty. Short daily reviews keep the dictionary-form rule automatic. Try Hane.
FAQ about つもり
What does つもり (tsumori) mean in Japanese?
つもり (tsumori) means “plan to; intend to”. It is JLPT N5 grammar. つもり is a noun meaning “intention.” When you put a verb in front of it, you describe the content of that intention: 行くつもり = “the intention to go.” Adding です makes it a full sentence.
How do you form つもり (tsumori)?
Verb (dictionary form) + つもりです Verb ない-form + つもりです - 行く → 行くつもりです (I intend to go) - 買う → 買わないつもりです (I intend not to buy) - 勉強する → 勉強するつもりです (I plan to study) Never use the ます-form before つもり.
What is the difference between つもり and 予定?
つもり: personal intention. 予定（よてい）: fixed schedule.
What is an example sentence with つもり (tsumori)?
来年、日本へ行くつもりです。 — I'm planning to go to Japan next year.