Japanese - Goals

私の一番の目標は、___ことです。

Watashi no ichiban no mokuhyō wa ___ koto desu.

My main goal is to ___.

Meaning: My main goal is to ___.

When to use: Put a dictionary-form verb phrase before こと, e.g., 日本語を話せるようになることです.

Tip: Don't use the ます-form before こと. Use the dictionary/plain form (e.g., する, 行く).

___がもっと上手になりたいです。

___ ga motto jōzu ni naritai desu.

I want to get better at ___.

Meaning: I want to get better at ___.

When to use: Use a skill or activity noun before が, e.g., 料理がもっと上手になりたいです.

___に取り組んでいます。

___ ni torikunde imasu.

I'm working on ___.

Meaning: I'm working on ___.

When to use: Use a task, goal, or skill noun before に. A simpler spoken alternative is ___をがんばっています.

いつか___したいと思っています。

Itsuka ___ shitai to omotte imasu.

I hope to ___ someday.

Meaning: I hope to ___ someday.

When to use: Use a noun or する-verb stem before したい. For other verbs, use the verb stem + たい.

将来、___したいです。

Shōrai, ___ shitai desu.

I'd like to ___ in the future.

Meaning: I'd like to ___ in the future.

When to use: Use a noun or する-verb stem before したい. For other verbs, use the verb stem + たい.

今年は、___ようにがんばっています。

Kotoshi wa, ___ yō ni ganbatte imasu.

This year, I'm trying to ___.

Meaning: This year, I'm trying to ___.

When to use: Put a plain verb or clause before ように, e.g., 毎日勉強するように.

Tip: Make sure to use the plain/dictionary form before ように (not ます-form).

___ために、___必要があります。

___ tame ni, ___ hitsuyō ga arimasu.

I need to ___ so I can ___.

Meaning: I need to ___ so I can ___.

When to use: Put the goal before ために and a dictionary-form verb phrase before 必要があります. Example order: 目標のために、行動する必要があります。

Tip: Don't swap the order without adjusting particles; the ために clause explains the purpose, then state what is necessary.

次は、何をしたいと思っていますか。

Tsugi wa, nani o shitai to omotte imasu ka.

What are you hoping to do next?

Meaning: What are you hoping to do next?

When to use: 次は means ‘next’ in a sequence of plans. A casual version is 次は何したい？

まだ決めていませんが、___に興味があります。

Mada kimete imasen ga, ___ ni kyōmi ga arimasu.

I haven't decided yet, but I'm interested in ___.

Meaning: I haven't decided yet, but I'm interested in ___.

When to use: Use ___に for a noun or field, or ___ことに for an activity related phrase.

私の夢は___ことです。

Watashi no yume wa ___ koto desu.

My dream is to ___.

Meaning: My dream is to ___.

When to use: Put a verb in dictionary form before こと, e.g., 世界を旅行することです.

___予定です、___までに。

___ yotei desu, ___ made ni.

I'm planning to ___ by ___.

Meaning: I'm planning to ___ by ___.

When to use: Put a dictionary-form verb before 予定です and a deadline after までに. Natural order can be 時間＋までに＋動詞。

次のステップは___ことです。

Tsugi no suteppu wa ___ koto desu.

My next step is to ___.

Meaning: My next step is to ___.

When to use: Put a dictionary-form verb before こと to mark the next step as topic.

今は___に集中しています。

Ima wa ___ ni shūchū shite imasu.

Right now, I'm focusing on ___.

Meaning: Right now, I'm focusing on ___.

When to use: Put a noun like 勉強 or 会話の練習 before に to show focus.