N4 Intentions & Plans

[V意向いこう形けい]と思おもう: meaning, usage and examples

[V意向いこう形けい]と思おもう means: I think I'll [Verb Volitional-form].

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

Examples

1. 来年らいねん、大学院だいがくいんに入はいろうと思おもっています。

   I'm thinking of entering graduate school next year.

2. 今日きょうは早はやく寝ねようと思おもいます。

   I think I'll go to bed early today.

3. 週末しゅうまつは部屋へやの掃除そうじをしようと思おもっています。

   I'm thinking of cleaning my room on the weekend.

4. 今晩こんばんは家いえで料理りょうりを作つくろうと思おもいます。

   I think I'll cook at home tonight.

When to use it

Shares a decision or plan the speaker is making: 'I think I'll do X' or 'I'm thinking of doing X'. と思おもいます often shows a decision made just now; と思おもっています shows a plan you have had for some time. Use it to talk about your own plans in a soft way: 来年らいねん、引ひっ越こそうと思おもっています.

Nuance

Softer and less fixed than つもり: the plan may still change. With と思おもう the subject is the speaker (in a question, the listener). For another person's plan, use と思おもっている: 田中たなかさんは留学りゅうがくしようと思おもっています.

Compare

Compare つもり (firm intention): 行いくつもりです sounds decided, 行いこうと思おもっています sounds like a plan under consideration. Compare plain form + と思おもう (a guess): 雨あめが降ふると思おもいます 'I think it will rain' is a prediction, not an intention.

Tip: Volitional + と思おもう is for your own actions; plain form + と思おもう is for guesses. 行いこうと思おもう 'I think I'll go' vs 行いくと思おもう 'I think he'll go'.

More on this in Japanese verb conjugation.