Purpose and intention

～つもり

intend to ~; plan to ~; (did) as if ~

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How to form it

  • Verb (dictionary form) + つもりだ
  • Verb (ない-form) + つもりだ
  • Verb (た-form) + つもりだ / だった
  • Noun + の + つもりだ

Register: Neutral

Explanation

Says what the speaker intends to do. With the た-form, it means 'I thought I had (but I had not)' or 'I did it as if it were ~'.

The dictionary form and ない-form show a plan or intention that the speaker holds. With a past form or a noun it often shows that reality differed from the speaker's thinking.

Examples

  1. 来年、日本へ留学するつもりだ。

    らいねん、にほんへりゅうがくするつもりだ。

    I intend to study in Japan next year.

  2. 今日は残業しないつもりです。

    きょうはざんぎょうしないつもりです。

    I do not intend to work overtime today.

  3. 彼を助けたつもりだったが、迷惑だったようだ。

    かれをたすけたつもりだったが、めいわくだったようだ。

    I thought I was helping him, but it seems it was a nuisance.

  4. 冗談のつもりで言ったのに、彼女は怒ってしまった。

    じょうだんのつもりでいったのに、かのじょはおこってしまった。

    I said it as a joke, but she got angry.

Compare with

  • ～予定: 予定 is a scheduled plan; つもり is a personal intention.
  • ～ようとする: ようとする describes an attempt; つもり describes an intention.

Common mistakes

  • Using つもり for an arrangement made by someone else; 予定 is better.