Today’s topic is plans, intentions, and decisions in Japanese: 予定
Yotei
plan / schedule, つもり
tsumori
intention, and 決める
kimeru
to decide.
Japanese has several ways to say “I plan to,” “I’m going to,” “I’ve decided to,” and “It has been decided that…” Yes, English casually throws all of these into one messy bucket. Japanese politely sorts the bucket, labels it, and probably files it by date.
The good news: once you learn the main patterns, they are very reusable. You can talk about weekend plans, study goals, travel schedules, life decisions, and even that brave decision to finally clean your room. A historic moment, honestly.
The Big Difference: Intention, Schedule, And Decision
Before learning examples, here is the simple mental map. Japanese separates what you intend to do, what is already scheduled, and what you have decided to do.
| Japanese | Rōmaji | English Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| つもり | tsumori | intention; plan in your mind | 日本語を勉強するつもりです。 Nihongo o benkyō suru tsumori desu. | I plan to study Japanese. |
| 予定 | yotei | plan; schedule; arrangement | 明日、友達に会う予定です。 Ashita, tomodachi ni au yotei desu. | I am scheduled to meet a friend tomorrow. |
| ことにする | koto ni suru | to decide to do something | 毎日走ることにしました。 Mainichi hashiru koto ni shimashita. | I decided to run every day. |
| ことになる | koto ni naru | it has been decided that; it turns out that | 来月、日本へ行くことになりました。 Raigetsu, Nihon e iku koto ni narimashita. | It has been decided that I will go to Japan next month. |
| 決める | kimeru | to decide | 新しい仕事を決めました。 Atarashii shigoto o kimemashita. | I decided on a new job. |
Yak wisdom: つもり is your intention. 予定 is your calendar. ことにしました is your decision wearing a tiny business suit.
How To Use つもり For “I Plan To”
Use つもり
tsumori
intention / plan when you are talking about what someone intends to do. It often feels like “I plan to,” “I intend to,” or “I’m thinking I will.”
The basic pattern is simple: dictionary-form verb + つもりです
tsumori desu
I plan to do.
| Key Phrase | Rōmaji | Meaning | Example Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 行くつもりです | iku tsumori desu | I plan to go | 週末、京都へ行くつもりです。 Shūmatsu, Kyōto e iku tsumori desu. | I plan to go to Kyoto this weekend. |
| 勉強するつもりです | benkyō suru tsumori desu | I plan to study | 今夜、日本語を勉強するつもりです。 Kon’ya, Nihongo o benkyō suru tsumori desu. | I plan to study Japanese tonight. |
| 買うつもりです | kau tsumori desu | I plan to buy | 新しい辞書を買うつもりです。 Atarashii jisho o kau tsumori desu. | I plan to buy a new dictionary. |
| 見るつもりです | miru tsumori desu | I plan to watch / see | 土曜日に映画を見るつもりです。 Doyōbi ni eiga o miru tsumori desu. | I plan to watch a movie on Saturday. |
| 作るつもりです | tsukuru tsumori desu | I plan to make | 晩ご飯にカレーを作るつもりです。 Bangohan ni karē o tsukuru tsumori desu. | I plan to make curry for dinner. |
To say you do not plan to do something, use the negative dictionary form before つもりです
tsumori desu
plan / intend.
| Key Phrase | Rōmaji | Meaning | Example Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 行かないつもりです | ikanai tsumori desu | I do not plan to go | 今日は出かけないつもりです。 Kyō wa dekakenai tsumori desu. | I do not plan to go out today. |
| 買わないつもりです | kawanai tsumori desu | I do not plan to buy | 高い靴は買わないつもりです。 Takai kutsu wa kawanai tsumori desu. | I do not plan to buy expensive shoes. |
| 飲まないつもりです | nomanai tsumori desu | I do not plan to drink | 今夜はお酒を飲まないつもりです。 Kon’ya wa osake o nomanai tsumori desu. | I do not plan to drink alcohol tonight. |
| 休まないつもりです | yasumanai tsumori desu | I do not plan to rest / take a day off | 明日は仕事を休まないつもりです。 Ashita wa shigoto o yasumanai tsumori desu. | I do not plan to take tomorrow off work. |
How To Use 予定 For Scheduled Plans
Use 予定
yotei
plan / schedule when the plan is more arranged, scheduled, or on the calendar. If つもり
tsumori
intention is “my brain says yes,” then 予定
yotei
schedule is “my calendar also says yes.” Dangerous levels of commitment.
The pattern is: dictionary-form verb + 予定です
yotei desu
be scheduled to / plan to.
| Key Phrase | Rōmaji | Meaning | Example Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 会う予定です | au yotei desu | I am scheduled to meet | 午後三時に先生に会う予定です。 Gogo san-ji ni sensei ni au yotei desu. | I am scheduled to meet my teacher at 3 p.m. |
| 出発する予定です | shuppatsu suru yotei desu | I am scheduled to leave | 電車は七時に出発する予定です。 Densha wa shichi-ji ni shuppatsu suru yotei desu. | The train is scheduled to leave at seven. |
| 帰る予定です | kaeru yotei desu | I plan / am scheduled to return | 来週、国へ帰る予定です。 Raishū, kuni e kaeru yotei desu. | I am scheduled to return to my country next week. |
| 始まる予定です | hajimaru yotei desu | it is scheduled to start | 会議は十時に始まる予定です。 Kaigi wa jū-ji ni hajimaru yotei desu. | The meeting is scheduled to start at ten. |
| 終わる予定です | owaru yotei desu | it is scheduled to end | 授業は十二時に終わる予定です。 Jugyō wa jūni-ji ni owaru yotei desu. | The class is scheduled to end at twelve. |
How To Say “I Decided To” With ことにする
Use ことにする
koto ni suru
to decide to do something when the decision comes from the speaker or subject. This is your choice, your decision, your dramatic main-character moment.
The polite past form ことにしました
koto ni shimashita
I decided to is very common because people often announce decisions after making them.
| Key Phrase | Rōmaji | Meaning | Example Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 勉強することにしました | benkyō suru koto ni shimashita | I decided to study | 毎朝、日本語を勉強することにしました。 Maiasa, Nihongo o benkyō suru koto ni shimashita. | I decided to study Japanese every morning. |
| 引っ越すことにしました | hikkosu koto ni shimashita | I decided to move | 来月、大阪へ引っ越すことにしました。 Raigetsu, Ōsaka e hikkosu koto ni shimashita. | I decided to move to Osaka next month. |
| やめることにしました | yameru koto ni shimashita | I decided to quit / stop | 夜遅く食べるのをやめることにしました。 Yoru osoku taberu no o yameru koto ni shimashita. | I decided to stop eating late at night. |
| 待つことにしました | matsu koto ni shimashita | I decided to wait | 雨が止むまで待つことにしました。 Ame ga yamu made matsu koto ni shimashita. | I decided to wait until the rain stops. |
| 電話することにしました | denwa suru koto ni shimashita | I decided to call | 母に電話することにしました。 Haha ni denwa suru koto ni shimashita. | I decided to call my mother. |
How To Say “It Was Decided” With ことになる
Use ことになる
koto ni naru
it is decided that / it comes about that when the decision feels external, official, arranged by others, or simply the result of circumstances. It is not always passive in grammar, but it often feels like “the situation ended up this way.”
This is useful for workplace news, school arrangements, family plans, and polite announcements where saying “I decided everything myself” would sound a little too powerful. Put down the tiny crown.
| Key Phrase | Rōmaji | Meaning | Example Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 行くことになりました | iku koto ni narimashita | it has been decided that I will go | 来年、日本へ行くことになりました。 Rainen, Nihon e iku koto ni narimashita. | It has been decided that I will go to Japan next year. |
| 働くことになりました | hataraku koto ni narimashita | it has been decided that I will work | 四月から東京で働くことになりました。 Shigatsu kara Tōkyō de hataraku koto ni narimashita. | It has been decided that I will work in Tokyo from April. |
| 休むことになりました | yasumu koto ni narimashita | it has been decided that I will take a break / day off | 明日は会社を休むことになりました。 Ashita wa kaisha o yasumu koto ni narimashita. | It has been decided that I will take tomorrow off work. |
| 中止することになりました | chūshi suru koto ni narimashita | it has been decided to cancel | 台風でイベントを中止することになりました。 Taifū de ibento o chūshi suru koto ni narimashita. | It has been decided to cancel the event because of the typhoon. |
| 延期することになりました | enki suru koto ni narimashita | it has been decided to postpone | 試験を来週に延期することになりました。 Shiken o raishū ni enki suru koto ni narimashita. | It has been decided to postpone the exam until next week. |
決める And 決まる: Decide Vs Be Decided
Two very useful verbs are 決める
kimeru
to decide and 決まる
kimaru
to be decided / to be set. The first one is active: someone decides. The second one is more like the decision becomes fixed.
| Japanese | Rōmaji | Meaning | Example Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 決める | kimeru | to decide | 旅行の日を決めました。 Ryokō no hi o kimemashita. | I decided the travel date. |
| 決まる | kimaru | to be decided / fixed | 旅行の日が決まりました。 Ryokō no hi ga kimarimashita. | The travel date has been decided. |
| 決定する | kettei suru | to decide formally | 会社は新しいルールを決定しました。 Kaisha wa atarashii rūru o kettei shimashita. | The company decided on new rules. |
| 決定 | kettei | decision; determination | これは大切な決定です。 Kore wa taisetsu na kettei desu. | This is an important decision. |
Softer Intentions With と思う
If つもりです
tsumori desu
I intend to feels too firm, use ようと思う
yō to omou
I’m thinking of doing / I think I will. It sounds softer and more thoughtful.
| Key Phrase | Rōmaji | Meaning | Example Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 行こうと思います | ikō to omoimasu | I think I will go | 明日、図書館へ行こうと思います。 Ashita, toshokan e ikō to omoimasu. | I think I will go to the library tomorrow. |
| 始めようと思います | hajimeyō to omoimasu | I am thinking of starting | 新しい趣味を始めようと思います。 Atarashii shumi o hajimeyō to omoimasu. | I am thinking of starting a new hobby. |
| 読もうと思います | yomō to omoimasu | I think I will read | この本を読もうと思います。 Kono hon o yomō to omoimasu. | I think I will read this book. |
| 聞いてみようと思います | kiite miyō to omoimasu | I think I will ask / try asking | 先生に聞いてみようと思います。 Sensei ni kiite miyō to omoimasu. | I think I will try asking the teacher. |
Real-Life Plan Phrases You Can Use Fast
Here are common phrases for talking about plans naturally. These are the little sentence chunks that make you sound less like a textbook robot and more like a human who occasionally has weekend plans.
| Phrase | Rōmaji | Meaning | Example Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 何か予定がありますか。 | Nanika yotei ga arimasu ka. | Do you have any plans? | 今週末、何か予定がありますか。 Konshūmatsu, nanika yotei ga arimasu ka. | Do you have any plans this weekend? |
| 予定があります。 | Yotei ga arimasu. | I have plans. | すみません、今日は予定があります。 Sumimasen, kyō wa yotei ga arimasu. | Sorry, I have plans today. |
| 予定がありません。 | Yotei ga arimasen. | I do not have plans. | 土曜日は予定がありません。 Doyōbi wa yotei ga arimasen. | I do not have plans on Saturday. |
| まだ決めていません。 | Mada kimete imasen. | I have not decided yet. | 旅行先はまだ決めていません。 Ryokōsaki wa mada kimete imasen. | I have not decided the travel destination yet. |
| もう決めました。 | Mō kimemashita. | I already decided. | ホテルはもう決めました。 Hoteru wa mō kimemashita. | I already decided on the hotel. |
| 考えています。 | Kangaete imasu. | I am thinking about it. | 新しい仕事について考えています。 Atarashii shigoto ni tsuite kangaete imasu. | I am thinking about a new job. |
| 迷っています。 | Mayotte imasu. | I am undecided / torn | どちらを買うか迷っています。 Dochira o kau ka mayotte imasu. | I am undecided about which one to buy. |
| 変更する予定です。 | Henkō suru yotei desu. | I plan to change it | 予約を変更する予定です。 Yoyaku o henkō suru yotei desu. | I plan to change the reservation. |
| キャンセルするつもりです。 | Kyanseru suru tsumori desu. | I intend to cancel | 雨なら、ピクニックをキャンセルするつもりです。 Ame nara, pikunikku o kyanseru suru tsumori desu. | If it rains, I intend to cancel the picnic. |
| 予定を立てます。 | Yotei o tatemasu. | I make plans | 夏休みの予定を立てます。 Natsuyasumi no yotei o tatemasu. | I will make plans for summer vacation. |
Common Mistakes And Easy Fixes
| Mistake | Why It Happens | Better Japanese | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 行きますつもりです Ikimasu tsumori desu | Using polite verb form before つもり. | 行くつもりです iku tsumori desu | 明日、行くつもりです。 Ashita, iku tsumori desu. | I plan to go tomorrow. |
| 行く予定があります iku yotei ga arimasu | Not always wrong, but often too noun-like for “I’m scheduled to go.” | 行く予定です iku yotei desu | 来週、行く予定です。 Raishū, iku yotei desu. | I am scheduled to go next week. |
| 決まりました kimarimashita | This means “it was decided,” not “I decided.” | 決めました kimemashita | 私は新しい車を決めました。 Watashi wa atarashii kuruma o kimemashita. | I decided on a new car. |
| ことになりました koto ni narimashita | Used when the decision sounds external or arranged. | ことにしました koto ni shimashita | 毎日歩くことにしました。 Mainichi aruku koto ni shimashita. | I decided to walk every day. |
Practice: Choose The Best Plan Pattern
Try choosing the best Japanese phrase for each English meaning. The answers are right there, because suspense is fun, but learning is better.
| English Meaning | Best Japanese | Rōmaji | Example Sentence | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I plan to study tonight. | 今夜、勉強するつもりです。 | Kon’ya, benkyō suru tsumori desu. | 試験があるので、今夜、勉強するつもりです。 Shiken ga aru node, kon’ya, benkyō suru tsumori desu. | I have an exam, so I plan to study tonight. |
| I am scheduled to meet my friend. | 友達に会う予定です。 | Tomodachi ni au yotei desu. | 明日の午後、友達に会う予定です。 Ashita no gogo, tomodachi ni au yotei desu. | I am scheduled to meet my friend tomorrow afternoon. |
| I decided to quit coffee. | コーヒーをやめることにしました。 | Kōhī o yameru koto ni shimashita. | 健康のために、コーヒーをやめることにしました。 Kenkō no tame ni, kōhī o yameru koto ni shimashita. | For my health, I decided to quit coffee. |
| It has been decided that the trip will be postponed. | 旅行を延期することになりました。 | Ryokō o enki suru koto ni narimashita. | 大雪で、旅行を延期することになりました。 Ōyuki de, ryokō o enki suru koto ni narimashita. | Because of heavy snow, it has been decided that the trip will be postponed. |
Quick Reference Summary
| Use This | Rōmaji | When To Use It | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| つもりです | tsumori desu | Your intention or personal plan | 日本語を話すつもりです。 Nihongo o hanasu tsumori desu. | I plan to speak Japanese. |
| 予定です | yotei desu | A scheduled or arranged plan | 明日、出発する予定です。 Ashita, shuppatsu suru yotei desu. | I am scheduled to leave tomorrow. |
| ことにしました | koto ni shimashita | You decided to do something | 早く寝ることにしました。 Hayaku neru koto ni shimashita. | I decided to sleep early. |
| ことになりました | koto ni narimashita | It was decided; circumstances led to it | 会議に出ることになりました。 Kaigi ni deru koto ni narimashita. | It has been decided that I will attend the meeting. |
| ようと思います | yō to omoimasu | A softer “I think I will” | 少し休もうと思います。 Sukoshi yasumō to omoimasu. | I think I will rest a little. |
Yak Takeaway
To say “I plan to” in Japanese, start with つもりです
tsumori desu
I intend to / I plan to. Use 予定です
yotei desu
be scheduled to when the plan is arranged. Use ことにしました
koto ni shimashita
I decided to when you made the decision, and ことになりました
koto ni narimashita
it has been decided when the situation or someone else set the plan.
That is the whole planning department. Tiny, useful, and far less stressful than an actual planning meeting.
