ようと思う — I'm thinking of / I intend to
Expresses a newly formed decision or intention. "I'm thinking of doing X / I've decided I'll do X." Uses the volitional form + と思う.
Structure
[Verb volitional form] + と思う / と思っている
Examples
今年こそ、ダイエットしようと思っています。
Kotoshi koso, daietto shiyou to omotte imasu.
This year for sure, I'm thinking of going on a diet.
しよう (volitional) + と思っています
来月から早起きしようと思った。
Raigetsu kara hayaoki shiyou to omotta.
I decided to start getting up early from next month.
しよう + と思った (past decision)
来年は何か新しいことを始めようと思っています。
Rainen wa nanika atarashii koto o hajimeyou to omotte imasu.
Next year, I'm thinking of starting something new.
始めよう (volitional) + と思っています
• Key Concept: Volitional + と思う = intention (I'll do). • Detail: Dictionary + と思う = belief (I think it is). • Detail: 〜ようと思っている = ongoing intention (I've been thinking of doing). • Summary: Common for sharing plans politely.
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones ようと思う is tested against.
vs つもりだ
ようと思う often signals a decision formed just now / a softer intention; つもりだ expresses a firmer, already-settled intention. と思っている is closer to つもり in firmness.
vs (dictionary) + と思う
Volitional + と思う = the speaker's intention to act; plain dictionary form + と思う = an opinion/belief about a fact (行こうと思う = I plan to go vs 行くと思う = I think [someone] will go).
More grammar patterns
- こと — Nominalizer (turning verbs into nouns)
- ことがある — Have experienced / Sometimes happens
- ことになる — It has been decided / It turns out
- ことにする — Decide to / Make it a rule to
- 〜方 (かた) — Way / Method of doing (how-to)
- 〜たり〜たり — Do things like… and… (representative actions)
- ということ — The Fact That / Meaning That
- ところ — About To / In the Middle / Just Finished (Timing)
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