“〜tsumori”: Intend To / Be Under the Impression That (intention & self-perception) [JLPT N4]
Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026
“Ashita iku tsumori desu” — planning the future and stating resolve
「留学するつもり」「伝えたつもり」 — 「〜つもり」, “intend to” and “assume I did”
「来年、留学するつもり」 (I intend to study abroad next year) and 「ちゃんと伝えたつもり」 (I assumed I'd conveyed it properly) — the same 「つもり」, one is “intention, plan,” the other “assume (though maybe not so).” The core of both is “this is how I've decided in my mind.” This guide covers 「つもり」's two uses and attachment, and separates it from 「予定 (an objective plan)」.
Core: a mental conviction (intention／assumption)
「つもり」 = a subjective mental conviction, two uses:
- ① Intention, plan (dictionary ＋ つもり): 留学するつもり (intend to study abroad), 行かないつもり (intend not to go).
- ② Assume (た-form／adjective ＋ つもり): 伝えたつもり (assumed I'd conveyed it, but maybe not), 若いつもり (assume I'm still young).
Difference: dictionary = a future intention; た-form = assume already done (though maybe not).
How to Connect
| Use | Attachment | Example |
|---|---|---|
| intention (plan) | dictionary ＋ つもり | 行くつもり |
| intend not to | ない-form ＋ つもり | 行かないつもり |
| assume | た-form／i-adj ＋ つもり | 言ったつもり |
例句（看情境）
- 来年、アメリカに留学するつもりだ。(I intend to study in the US next year.) — intention
- 私は行かないつもりです。(I intend not to go.) — intend not to
- ちゃんと伝えたつもりだったが、伝わっていなかった。(I assumed I'd conveyed it, but it didn't get across.) — assume
- まだ若いつもりだけど、もう40だ。(I assume I'm still young, but I'm already 40.) — assume
- 面接のつもりで、練習しよう。(Let's practice as if it were an interview.) — as if (noun の ＋ つもり)
⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid
① Attaches to the dictionary form, not ます-form. 行くつもり (✗ 行きますつもり). Before 「つもり」 use the plain form (dictionary／ない-form／た-form), not the ます-form.
② Dictionary (intend) vs た-form (assume). するつもり = intend (will do in the future); したつもり = assume did (though maybe not). 伝えるつもり (intend to convey) vs 伝えたつもり (assumed I conveyed it) — one form apart, one is a future intention, the other “assumed done but wasn't.”
③ 「つもり」 vs 「予定」. つもり = a subjective intention/resolve (may change: 行くつもり); 予定 = an objective, set plan/schedule (more definite: 3時に会議の予定). つもり is what you have in mind, 予定 is what's scheduled.
🔄 Nuance & comparison: つもり／予定／はず
| Form | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜つもり | subjective intention, resolve | 行くつもり |
| 〜予定 | an objective, set plan | 行く予定 |
| 〜はず | should, by reason (inference) | 行くはず |
💡 An exam judgment tip
The core of 「つもり」 is “this is how I've decided in my mind,” in two uses: ① intention (dictionary) — 留学するつもり (intend to study abroad), 行かないつもり (intend not to go), a personal intention/resolve; ② assumption (た-form) — 伝えたつもり (assumed I'd conveyed it), 分かったつもり (assumed I understood), with an “assumed… but maybe not” flavor (often for a gap you find afterward). Attach with the plain form (not ます-form). The difference from 「予定」: つもり = a subjective thought (may change), 予定 = an objective schedule (already set). 「行くつもり (I intend to go)」 is more subjective and changeable than 「行く予定 (scheduled to go)」. Very useful for expressing plans and resolve.
❓ FAQ
Q: 「するつもり」 vs 「したつもり」?
By dictionary (future intention) vs た-form (assume already done). 「するつもり」 (dictionary) = intend to do (a future intention): 来年留学するつもり (intend to study abroad next year). 「したつもり」 (た-form) = assume did (though maybe not): ちゃんと説明したつもり (assumed I'd explained well, but they didn't get it). One form apart, big difference: dictionary looks to the future (will do), た-form carries “assumed done, but there's a gap.” The “assume” use often has a “didn't turn out as expected” tone (〜たつもりだったが… = assumed…, but…).
Q: How do I tell 「つもり」 from 「予定」?
By subjective vs objective, and definiteness. 「つもり」 = a subjective intention/resolve (what you have in mind, may change): 夏休みは旅行するつもり (I intend to travel over summer — a personal thought). 「予定」 = an objective, set plan/schedule (more definite, often with a specific time): 3時から会議の予定 (a meeting scheduled from 3), 来週出発の予定. Simply: つもり is “I intend to…” (a mental plan), 予定 is “it's scheduled…” (an objective plan). So つもり is more flexible and changeable, 予定 more fixed. Personal resolve → つもり, a set schedule → 予定.
🖊️ Practice Questions (5)
Q1. 「来年アメリカに___」— which is correct?
(A) 行くつもりです (B) 行きますつもりです (C) 行ったつもりです (D) 行くつもりがです
Q2. 「ちゃんと伝えた___ですが、誤解されてしまいました。」
(A) つもり (B) 予定 (C) はずがない (D) だろう
Q3. Which sentence expresses 'I intend not to go'?
(A) 行かないつもりです (B) 行くつもりはないです (C) 行かないかつもりです (D) 行かつもりです
Q4. 「面接の___で練習してみよう。」
(A) ために (B) はずで (C) つもりで (D) ことで
Q5. 「早く連絡する___だったのに、忘れてしまった。」
(A) 予定 (B) つもり (C) はず (D) だろう
Answer Explanations
1. (A) 行くつもりです ── つもり attaches to the verb's dictionary form; it can't attach to the ます-form.
2. (A) つもり ── 「伝えたつもり」means you thought you'd conveyed it, but there was actually a gap — a perfect fit for the context.
3. (A) 行かないつもりです ── ない-form + つもりだ is the standard way to express a negative intention. Option B 「行くつもりはない」is also correct, but stronger in meaning.
4. (C) つもりで ── 「〜のつもりで」means 'do it as if ~'; here it means treating the practice as a real interview.
5. (B) つもり ── 「〜するつもりだったのに」means you originally planned to but didn't manage to in the end, expressing regret.