Ways to say "I'm going to" and "I plan to"
Japanese has no separate future form: 行きます already says "I'll go" and "I'm going to go", and it is the one to start with. The other forms say how settled the plan is, from something you have in mind to a date on the calendar.
| Form | What it says | English |
|---|---|---|
| 行きます | What you will do, stated plainly | "I'll go", "I'm going" |
| 行こう | Deciding now, to yourself | "All right, I'll go" |
| 行こうと思います | Telling someone what you have just decided | "I think I'll go" |
| 行こうと思っています | In mind for a while, not yet firm | "I'm thinking of going" |
| 行くつもりです | Your mind is made up | "I intend to go" |
| 行く予定です | It is on the calendar | "I'm due to go" |
| 行くことにしました | Reporting your own decision | "I've decided to go" |
| 行くことになりました | Reporting a decision without saying whose | "It's been decided", "I'll be going" |
行きます: the verb by itself
行きます states what you will do, planned or just decided.
I will study at the library tomorrow.
English "I'm going to watch a movie" can be a plan with no trip in it. That is 見ます. 見に行きます is always a real trip.
I am going to watch a movie tonight.
A plan. You may stay at home.
I am going out to see a movie tonight.
You go to a movie theater.
行こう and 行こうと思う: deciding, and telling someone
Full page（よ）う・
行こう is what people say as they make up their mind, mostly to themselves; said to other people it is "let's go". To tell someone what you have decided, you add と思います, "I think I'll…", which is softer than announcing 行きます.
All right, I'll go to bed early tonight.
I think I'll go to bed early tonight.
I think I'll be heading home now.
と思っています says the idea has been with you for a while: you mean to do it, and it is not yet firm.
The rent is cheap too, so I think I'll move here.
You have just decided.
I have been thinking of moving to this town for some time.
In mind for a while.
つもりだ: your mind is made up
Full pageつもりだN5
つもり says you have made up your mind. It is for a plan you already have: English "I'm going to" or "I intend to". Even so, it leaves room for change, and when someone needs a firm answer, people say 行きます.
After graduating from college, I intend to work at my father's company.
to a friend
What are you planning to do over summer vacation?
予定だ: on the calendar
Full page予定だN4
予定だ says something is on the schedule: a date is set or a ticket booked. You hear it in station announcements, and say it about your own calendar. A train or a meeting can't make up its mind, so it takes 予定, not つもり.
I am planning to travel to Kyoto next month.
English says "planning to" for つもり as well. 予定 says the trip is arranged.
This train is scheduled to arrive at 9:10.
Not said: 会議は
(The meeting is due to start at three.)
始まる予定です.
予定 by itself is the everyday word for "plans". Asking about someone's 予定 doesn't pry, and 予定があります is a gentle way to turn an invitation down.
Do you have any plans on Saturday?
Sorry, I've got plans on Saturday…
思っています, つもり or 予定?
All three can be said about one plan. Each says how settled it is.
I'm thinking of studying abroad in Japan next year.
In mind for a while, and not yet firm.
I intend to study abroad in Japan next year.
You have decided. Nothing has to be arranged yet.
I am due to study abroad in Japan next year.
It is arranged: the school and the dates are set.
Where it goes wrong
A decision made as you speak, English "I'll", is plain ます, not つもり.
We're out of milk, aren't we?
Then I'll go and buy some.
Not said: じゃ、
(Then I'll go and buy some.)
This would mean you had been planning to go all along.
English "I think I'll go" has a plain "go". In Japanese, a plain verb before と思う is a guess, not a decision.
I think I'll go to tomorrow's party.
What you mean to do.
I think he'll go to tomorrow's party.
A guess, usually about someone else. About yourself it is "I'll probably go".
どうするつもり？ is fine with a friend. To someone you speak politely to, つもりですか can sound as if you are questioning their decision, so people ask with plain ますか.
Do you intend to go to tomorrow's party too, Tanaka-san?
Can sound like a challenge.
Are you going to tomorrow's party too, Tanaka-san?
The ordinary question.
ことにする and ことになる: a decision already made
Full pageことにする・
ことにしました reports a decision as your own: "I've decided to". ことになりました says it has been decided, and doesn't say who chose.
I've decided to study abroad next year.
Your own choice.
I'm going to be studying abroad next year.
It has been settled. Perhaps your company is sending you.
People give their own news with ことになりました too, a wedding or a move, because it sounds modest.
I'm moving to Tokyo next month.
ことにしました reports the deciding. つもりです says what you now intend, and you can say it for as long as the plan stands.
Not going to
The plain "I'm not going" is 行きません. つもり has two negatives.
I do not intend to participate this time.
You have decided not to.
I have no intention of participating this time.
Stronger. The idea is ruled out.
Other things "I'll" and "going to" can mean
ようにしますN4
"I'll try to", "I'll make sure to": a promise to make the effort.
I'm sorry. I'll make sure I'm not late from now on.
（よ）うとするN3
"Tried to", "was about to": an attempt, not a plan. It is not "I'll try to".
I tried to open the door, but it was locked and wouldn't open.
まいN2Written, old-fashioned
A firm "I will not", in novels. Ordinarily people say もう行かない or 行かないつもりだ.
I will not come back here again.