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JLPT N4Grammar Patterns

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.

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Pro lessonUNIT 85 · GRAMMAR PATTERNS

Structure · 形

[Verb volitional form] + と思う / と思っている

Examples · 例文

  • 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

Usage notes · 注意

  • 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).

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