Intentions & Convictions: 〜つもり (Personal plans, resolve & the boundary of other people's minds)

Mental Model: The Mind's Internal Blueprint

How do you express an active plan in Japanese? While 〜たい expresses emotional desire (”I want to...”), 〜つもり expresses deliberate resolve and mental intention (”I intend to... / I plan on...”):

• Root Concept: The noun 積もり (tsumori) historically originates from the verb 積もる (tsumoru, to accumulate or pile up). In mental terms, it refers to an accumulation of thoughts that forms a settled intention or conviction in your mind.

• Contrast with Pure Desire:
• 日本に行きたいです: “I want to go to Japan” (An emotional wish or yearning).
• 日本に行くつもりです: “I plan on going to Japan” (A settled mental decision; steps are likely already being considered).

How to Build Your Intention

つもり functions grammatically as a noun. Therefore, verbs attach to it in their plain informal form:

• Positive Intention (Dictionary Form + つもりです):
• 来年、大学に入るつもりです。 (”I intend to enter university next year.”)
• 新しいパソコンを買うつもりです。 (”I plan to buy a new computer.”)

• Negative Intention (The Two Flavors of Negation): There are two ways to negate this structure, each with a distinct nuance:

1. Standard Negative Plan (〜ないつもりです): Attaching ない to the verb simply states your quiet intention not to act: 明日のパーティーには行かないつもりです。 (”I plan not to go to tomorrow's party.”)

2. Firm Refusal / Complete Denial (〜つもりはありません): Negating つもり itself with the contrastive particle は strongly rejects the idea: そんなことを言うつもりはありませんでした。 (”I had absolutely NO intention whatsoever of saying such a thing!”)

Sociolinguistic Pitfall: The Superiors Taboo

Here lies the most dangerous conversational trap for Japanese learners:

Never ask a boss, teacher, client, or elder: 〜つもりですか!

• Why? Asking someone 何時に来るつもりですか does not mean a friendly “When do you plan to arrive?”. Because つもり implies subjective presumption and personal design, asking this of a superior sounds accusatory and disrespectful—equivalent to: “What do you presume to do?” or “What are you scheming?”.

• The Polite Alternative: When asking superiors about their schedule or plans, always use objective schedule words like ご予定 (go-yotei) or honorific grammar:
• 先生、明日の会議にいらっしゃいますか。 (Honorific)
• 明日のご予定はいかがですか。 (”What is your schedule for tomorrow?”)

Bonus Insight: The Intermediate Trap (〜たつもり)

In intermediate Japanese, you will see past tense before つもり: 鍵をかけた積もりでした。 When attached to a past verb (〜た), it means “under the impression of having done something” (even though reality proved otherwise!): “I was sure I had locked the door [but it was unlocked!].”