“〜you to omotte iru”: Be Planning / Thinking of Doing 〜 (an ongoing intention) [JLPT N3]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「ジムに通おうと思っている」 — an intention you've been holding, not a snap decision.

「来月からジムに通おうと思っています」 — 「ようと思っている」, planning to / thinking of doing

「来月から、ジムに通おうと思っています」 (I'm planning to start going to the gym next month) — 「(verb volitional) ＋ と思っている」 means “(I) plan to ~, am thinking of doing ~”: expressing an intention or plan that's been held for a while, ongoing (not a thought that just popped up). This guide covers 「ようと思っている」's attachment, that “have been thinking about it for a while” feel, and separates it from 「ようと思う (a present intention)／つもりだ (firmer)」.

Core: a plan held for a while, ongoing

The core of 「ようと思っている」 is “expressing an intention/plan held ongoing” — the verb volitional (行こう, 通おう, しよう) marks the will “to do,” and adding 「と思っている」, the 「ている」 marks that the plan has been held for some time:

• An ongoing plan: 来月から、ジムに通おうと思っている (I'm planning to start the gym next month).
• Considering: 留学しようと思っている (I'm thinking of studying abroad).

Feel: “(have been) planning to ~, thinking of doing ~” — not a spur-of-the-moment idea, but a plan thought over for a while.

How to Connect

See it in context

• 来月から、ジムに通おうと思っています。(I'm planning to start the gym next month.) — an ongoing plan
• 将来は、日本で働こうと思っている。(In the future I'm thinking of working in Japan.) — considering
• そろそろ、新しい車を買おうと思っている。(I'm about ready to buy a new car.) — a plan
• 週末は家でゆっくりしようと思っています。(I'm planning to relax at home this weekend.) — a plan
• 彼に本当のことを話そうと思っている。(I'm thinking of telling him the truth.) — an intention

⚠️ Where learners slip up

① Attach the volitional, not the ます-form/dictionary form. ✗ 帰りようと思う／帰ると思う (for “plan”) → ✓ 帰ろうと思う (verb volitional ＋ と思う). 「ようと思う」 attaches to a verb's volitional (帰ろう, 通おう, しよう), not the ます-form or dictionary form. (Note: dictionary form ＋ と思う is “(I think) it'll …,” a guess, not “plan” — see trip-up ③.)

② 「ようと思っている」 (an ongoing plan) vs 「ようと思う」 (a present/current plan). ようと思っ『ている』 = the plan has been held for a while (前から留学しようと思っている = I've been planning to study abroad for a while); ようと思う = a present, current plan (よし、留学しようと思う = right, I've (just decided to) study abroad). The 「ている」 adds “ongoing, thought over for a while.” For “I've been planning to …” use ている, for “I (now) plan to …” use ようと思う.

③ 「verb volitional ＋ と思う」 (plan) vs 「verb dictionary form ＋ と思う」 (a guess that it'll …). volitional ＋ と思う = (I) plan to do (marking will) (行こうと思う = I plan to go); dictionary form ＋ と思う = (I think) it'll … (a guess) ((彼は)行くと思う = I think he'll go). The difference is volitional vs dictionary form: volitional is “I will do,” dictionary is “I guess it'll ….” Don't confuse the attachment of “plan” with “guess.”

🔄 Compare with similar forms: ようと思っている／ようと思う／つもりだ／dictionary form と思う

💡 The one thing to remember

「ようと思っている」 expresses “(I) plan to ~, am thinking of doing ~,” and it's a plan held for a while — the verb volitional (通おう, 留学しよう) ＋ と思っている, the 「ている」 flagging “this idea isn't brand new, but thought over for a while” (来月からジムに通おうと思っている = I've been planning to start the gym next month). Three points: ① attach the volitional (通おう, ✗ 通いよう/通う); ② vs 「ようと思う」 — 「ている」 is an ongoing plan, 「ようと思う」 a present decision; ③ vs 「つもりだ」 — つもりだ is firmer, more definite (a settled plan), ようと思っている is softer (still planning/considering). Also don't confuse “volitional ＋ と思う (plan)” with “dictionary form ＋ と思う (a guess that it'll …).” To say “(have been) planning to …,” ようと思っている is spot-on.

❓ FAQ

Q: How do I tell 「ようと思っている」 from 「つもりだ」? (both ‘plan')

By “how firm/definite the plan is.” 「ようと思っている」 = (currently) planning, considering (softer, still thinking/leaning, possibly not fully settled): 卒業したら、田舎に帰ろうと思っている (after graduating, I'm thinking of going back to the countryside — leaning, considering), そのうち車を買おうと思っている (I'm thinking of buying a car sometime — a loose plan). It carries the softness of “still considering, leaning toward.” 「つもりだ」 = plan (firmer, definite, a made-up-mind plan): 来年、留学するつもりだ (next year I plan to study abroad — a settled plan, resolve), 絶対に諦めないつもりだ (I don't intend to ever give up — firm will). It carries the firmness of “already decided, definite.” So: “(still) planning, considering (softer)” → ようと思っている; “(settled) plan, resolve (firmer)” → つもりだ. E.g., 「留学しようと思っている」 = considering studying abroad (leaning); 「留学するつもりだ」 = (decided to) study abroad (a definite plan). For a loose leaning use ようと思っている, for a firm resolve use つもりだ. Note the attachment differs too: ようと思う takes the volitional (留学しよう), つもりだ takes the dictionary form (留学する).

Q: What's the difference between 「volitional ＋ と思う」 and 「dictionary form ＋ と思う」?

A big difference: one is “(I) plan to do,” the other “(I think) it'll … (a guess),” told apart by whether the verb is volitional or dictionary form. 「(verb volitional) ＋ と思う」 = (I) plan to, want to do (marking ‘one's own will, plan'): 明日、早く起きようと思う (I plan to get up early tomorrow — my will), この本を読もうと思う (I plan to read this book), 彼に相談しようと思う (I plan to consult him). The subject is “I,” marking “I will do …” as a plan. 「(verb dictionary form) ＋ と思う」 = (I think/believe) it'll …, it's … (marking ‘a guess, opinion'): 明日は雨が降ると思う (I think it'll rain tomorrow — a guess), 彼はもう帰ったと思う (I think he's already gone home), この映画は面白いと思う (I think this movie is interesting — an opinion). It marks “my guess or view about something,” the subject often third-person or an objective matter. So: “plan to do (will)” → volitional ＋ と思う (行こうと思う); “think it'll … (guess/opinion)” → dictionary form ＋ と思う (行くと思う). 「行こうと思う」 = I plan to go; 「行くと思う」 = I think (he)'ll go. The difference is volitional (I will do) vs dictionary form (I guess it'll), entirely different meanings — a common exam contrast.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「来月から、ジムに通___と思っています。」(planning to go to the gym)

(A) おう　(B) う　(C) る　(D) って

Q2. 「ようと思う」の前に来る動詞の形は?

(A) 意向形（〜よう／〜おう）　(B) Dictionary form　(C) た形　(D) て形

Q3. 「留学しようと思っている」の意味は?

(A) (Continuously) intend to study abroad

(B) Have already finished studying abroad

(C) Don't intend to study abroad

(D) Forced to study abroad

Q4. 「ようと思う」と「と思う」の違いは?

(A) ようと思う = (I) intend to do it (volition); dictionary form ＋ と思う = (I guess) it will ~ (conjecture)

(B) The two are exactly the same

(C) ようと思う = conjecture

(D) と思う = intention

Q5. 接法が正しいのは?

(A) 早く帰ろうと思う。　(B) 早く帰ると思う(expressing intention)。

(C) 早く帰りようと思う。　(D) 早く帰ってようと思う。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) おう ── 「通おう」volitional form ＋ と思っている.

2. (A) 意向形 ── Volitional form ＋ と思う.

3. (A) ── Continuously intend to study abroad.

4. (A) ── ようと思う intention; dictionary form ＋ と思う conjecture.

5. (A) ── Volitional form 「帰ろう」＋ と思う.