N2 Intention and Determination

~つもり (belief): meaning, usage and examples

~つもり (belief) means: think/believe that... (mistaken belief).

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 彼かれは若わかいつもりだが、もう60歳ろくじゅっさいだ。

   He thinks he's young, but he's already 60.

2. 分わかったつもりでいるが、実じつは理解りかいしていない。

   I think I understand, but actually I don't.

3. 自分じぶんでは丁寧ていねいに書かいたつもりだったが、間違まちがいが多おおかった。

   I thought I had written it carefully, but there were a lot of mistakes.

4. 田中たなかさんは冗談じょうだんのつもりで言いったが、相手あいては怒おこってしまった。

   Mr. Tanaka meant it as a joke, but the other person got angry.

When to use it

Says that someone believes or feels something about themselves, but the reality may be different. For example, 若わかいつもりだが、もう疲つかれやすい means "I think of myself as young, but I tire easily now." It also says what someone meant by an action: 冗談じょうだんのつもりで言いった ("I meant it as a joke").

Nuance

Neutral; common in conversation. Often there is a gap between belief and reality, shown with が or のに. It can sound self-critical or critical of someone else. Different from つもり after a dictionary form, which means "intend to."

Compare

Dictionary form + つもり means a plan: 来年らいねん留学りゅうがくするつもりだ. た-form + つもり means a belief that may be wrong: 鍵かぎをかけたつもりだった. と思おもう is a neutral opinion; つもり hints the belief is the person's own view, not fact.

Tip: Watch the verb form: 行いくつもり is a plan, 行いったつもり is a belief, often followed by でも or が and a contrary fact.