LEARN + JAPANESE / Note 145 JLPT N4
I'm Going To (〜ようと思う)
ようと思う attaches to a verb’s volitional form, the “let’s” form you met in ましょう’s plain equivalent, plus と思う, and expresses a decision or intention, “I’m thinking I’ll do X.”
On Wednesday, I'm thinking I'll wash the car.
On Thursday, I'm thinking I'll go run at the gym.
In Real Life
洗う becomes 洗おう, 走る becomes 走ろう, する becomes しよう, the volitional form built the same way as the plain equivalent of ましょう. と思う on top of it frames the plan as something you’ve just decided, in-the-moment, rather than a long-settled commitment.
On Tuesday, I'm thinking I'll call my parents.
I'm planning to go sightseeing in Kobe.
In Real Life
つもり states a settled plan, often one you’ve held for a while. ようと思う leans more spontaneous, “I’ve just decided,” and ようと思っています, with ている, softens it into an ongoing intention you’ve been considering rather than a decision made on the spot.
Vocabulary
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| to wash | |
| to run | |
| to make a phone call | |
| to clean | |
| okonomiyaki | |
| to sightsee | |
| Kobe | |
| parents | |
| to resolve, decide firmly | |
| to come up with, think of | |
| to decide suddenly | |
| to make up one's mind | |
| plan, schedule | |
| to carry out | |
| for now, first of all | |
| soon, before long | |
| boldly, taking the plunge | |
| to put into action | |
| will, intention | |
| to decide |