「よう, する」, 「つもりだ」: Key Differences

When studying Japanese, you will often encounter expressions that seem to describe the same idea at first glance.

A common example is the difference between 「ようとする」 (yō to suru / to be about to do something or try to do something) and 「つもりだ」 (tsumori da / to intend to do something).

Look at these two sentences:

「家を出ようとしたとき、電話が鳴った。」
I was about to leave the house when the phone rang.

「明日は朝早く家を出るつもりだ。」
I intend to leave the house early tomorrow morning.

Both sentences involve the action of leaving the house.

However, they focus on different points in time.

The first sentence describes the moment immediately before an action begins.

The second sentence describes a plan or intention that exists in the speaker's mind.

This distinction is extremely important in JLPT grammar and reading questions.

The Main Difference

The expression 「ようとする」 focuses on an action that someone is about to begin or is actually attempting.

The expression 「つもりだ」 focuses on a personal decision, intention, or plan.

In simple terms:

• 「ようとする」 (yō to suru): Someone is moving toward an action or attempting it.
• 「つもりだ」 (tsumori da): Someone has decided to do something or plans to do it.

The key question is not only whether the person has an intention.

The more important question is this:

Has the action started to move from thought into reality?

「ようとする」 Describes an Action About to Begin

The expression 「ようとする」 is formed by adding 「とする」 to the volitional form of a verb.

Examples:

• 食べる → 食べようとする
• 行く → 行こうとする
• 帰る → 帰ろうとする
• 開ける → 開けようとする
• 勉強する → 勉強しようとする

This pattern is often used when someone is just about to take action.

Example: An Action Interrupted at the Last Moment

「電車に乗ろうとしたとき、ドアが閉まった。」
I was about to get on the train when the doors closed.

The speaker did not merely think about boarding the train.

The speaker had already started moving toward the train and was at the point of getting on.

That is why 「乗ろうとしたとき」 (norō to shita toki / when I was about to board) is natural here.

Example: An Attempt That Did Not Succeed

「窓を開けようとしたが、動かなかった。」
I tried to open the window, but it would not move.

In this sentence, the person actually attempted to open the window.

The result was unsuccessful.

Depending on the context, 「ようとする」 can therefore express not only an action about to begin, but also an actual attempt.

「つもりだ」 Describes an Intention or Plan

The expression 「つもりだ」 is commonly used after a dictionary-form verb or a negative-form verb.

Examples:

• 行くつもりだ
• 勉強するつもりだ
• 買わないつもりだ
• 遅刻しないつもりだ

This pattern expresses a decision, intention, or plan.

Example: A Future Plan

「来年、日本へ留学するつもりだ。」
I intend to study abroad in Japan next year.

The speaker may already be preparing for the trip, but preparation is not the main focus of the sentence.

The sentence mainly tells us what the speaker has decided to do.

Example: A Decision Not to Do Something

「今日は甘いものを食べないつもりだ。」
I do not intend to eat sweets today.

The speaker has decided not to eat sweets.

The action has not necessarily started yet.

The focus is on the speaker's intention.

Compare the Two Expressions

Example 1: Leaving the House

「家を出ようとしたとき、雨が降り始めた。」
I was about to leave the house when it started raining.

The action was about to begin.

The speaker may already have been putting on shoes, opening the door, or stepping outside.

Now compare it with:

「明日は7時に家を出るつもりだ。」
I intend to leave the house at 7 tomorrow.

This sentence describes tomorrow's plan.

The action has not started yet.

Example 2: Asking a Teacher a Question

「先生に質問しようとしたが、授業が終わってしまった。」
I was about to ask the teacher a question, but the class ended.

The student was preparing to speak or trying to find a chance to ask.

Now compare it with:

「授業のあとで先生に質問するつもりだ。」
I intend to ask the teacher a question after class.

This sentence describes a plan.

Example 3: Opening a Door

「ドアを開けようとしたが、鍵がかかっていた。」
I tried to open the door, but it was locked.

The person actually attempted to open the door.

Now compare it with:

「荷物を取ったら、ドアを開けるつもりだ。」
I intend to open the door after picking up my luggage.

The speaker has a plan, but the action has not started.

How to Choose the Correct Answer on the JLPT

When choosing between 「ようとする」 and 「つもりだ」, do not ask only whether the person wants to do something.

Both expressions can involve a person's will.

Instead, ask:

• Is the sentence describing the moment immediately before an action?
• Is someone actually attempting the action?
• Is the sentence simply describing a future plan or decision?

This will make the difference much clearer.

Clues That Often Appear with 「ようとする」

The following expressions frequently appear in sentences describing an action about to begin:

• 「とき」 (toki / when)
• 「ところ」 (tokoro / the point or moment)
• 「その瞬間」 (sono shunkan / at that moment)
• 「が」 (ga / but)
• 「けれど」 (keredo / but)
• 「突然」 (totsuzen / suddenly)
• 「ちょうど」 (chōdo / just)

Examples:

「寝ようとしたとき、友達から電話がかかってきた。」
Just as I was about to go to sleep, a friend called me.

「席を立とうとしたが、先生に呼び止められた。」
I was about to stand up, but the teacher stopped me.

These sentences describe an action interrupted by another event.

Clues That Often Appear with 「つもりだ」

The following expressions often appear when talking about intentions or plans:

• 「来年」 (rainen / next year)
• 「卒業後」 (sotsugyōgo / after graduation)
• 「明日」 (ashita / tomorrow)
• 「これから」 (korekara / from now on)
• 「予定」 (yotei / plan)
• 「決めている」 (kimete iru / have decided)
• 「将来」 (shōrai / in the future)

Examples:

「卒業後は、日本で働くつもりだ。」
I intend to work in Japan after graduation.

「明日から毎日30分ずつ勉強するつもりだ。」
I intend to study for 30 minutes every day starting tomorrow.

These sentences focus on a person's decision.

Pay Attention to 「ようとしている」

The form 「ようとしている」 (yō to shite iru) is also common on the JLPT.

「電車が出発しようとしている。」
The train is about to depart.

This sentence describes an event that will happen very soon.

Now look at another example:

「子どもが一人で靴を履こうとしている。」
The child is trying to put on their shoes by themselves.

In this sentence, the child is making an actual effort.

Therefore, 「ようとしている」 can express two ideas:

• Something is about to happen.
• Someone is actively trying to do something.

Always check the context.

Pay Attention to 「ようとしない」

The negative form 「ようとしない」 (yō to shinai / not even try to do something) is also important.

「彼は自分の間違いを認めようとしない。」
He refuses to admit his mistake.

This does not simply mean that he has made a plan not to admit his mistake.

It means that he shows no willingness to admit it.

Another example:

「子どもが野菜を食べようとしない。」
The child will not even try to eat vegetables.

Now compare it with:

「今日は野菜を食べないつもりだ。」
I do not intend to eat vegetables today.

The first sentence describes a lack of willingness to take action.

The second sentence describes a conscious decision.

Reading Tip: Follow the Timeline

When you see 「ようとする」 in a reading passage, pay close attention to what happens immediately before and after it.

For example:

駅を出ようとしたとき、後ろから名前を呼ばれた。振り返ると、大学時代の友人が立っていた。

I was about to leave the station when someone called my name from behind. When I turned around, I saw a friend from university.

The expression 「出ようとしたとき」 (deyō to shita toki / when I was about to leave) marks the moment when the scene changes.

Now compare it with:

大学を卒業したら、しばらく海外で働くつもりだ。そのために、今は英語を勉強している。

After graduating from university, I intend to work abroad for a while. That is why I am studying English now.

The expression 「働くつもりだ」 (hataraku tsumori da / intend to work) introduces a future plan.

The next sentence explains the preparation for that plan.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Treating 「ようとする」 as a Simple Future Plan

「来年、日本へ留学しようとしている。」
I am trying to study abroad in Japan next year.

This sentence is grammatically possible.

However, it usually suggests that the speaker is taking concrete steps, such as preparing documents or applying to a school.

If you only want to describe a personal plan, the following sentence is more natural:

「来年、日本へ留学するつもりだ。」
I intend to study abroad in Japan next year.

Mistake 2: Using 「つもりだ」 When the Moment Before an Action Is Important

「寝るつもりだったとき、電話が鳴った。」
When I intended to sleep, the phone rang.

This sentence can be understood, but it does not clearly capture the moment immediately before going to sleep.

A more natural sentence is:

「寝ようとしたとき、電話が鳴った。」
Just as I was about to go to sleep, the phone rang.

Mistake 3: Memorizing Only One English Translation

It is tempting to memorize 「ようとする」 as “intend to” and 「つもりだ」 as “plan to.”

However, that is not enough.

Japanese grammar often shows not only what someone thinks, but also how close they are to taking action.

Mini Quiz

Choose the more natural answer.

Question 1

家を出（　）としたとき、宅配便が届いた。
A delivery arrived just as I was about to leave the house.

• よう
• るつもりだ

Answer:

「家を出ようとしたとき、宅配便が届いた。」
A delivery arrived just as I was about to leave the house.

The sentence describes an action about to begin.

Question 2

来月から、毎日日本語のニュースを読む（　）。
Starting next month, I intend to read Japanese news every day.

• ようとした
• つもりだ

Answer:

「来月から、毎日日本語のニュースを読むつもりだ。」
Starting next month, I intend to read Japanese news every day.

The sentence describes a future plan.

Question 3

彼は何度説明しても、自分の考えを変え（　）。
No matter how many times we explain it, he refuses to change his opinion.

• ようとしない
• ないつもりだ

Answer:

「彼は何度説明しても、自分の考えを変えようとしない。」
No matter how many times we explain it, he refuses to change his opinion.

The sentence shows that he has no willingness to change.

For a broader view of similar inference and judgment expressions, see the guide to confusing JLPT inference expressions. JLPT Inference and Judgment Expressions

For a broader view of Japanese negative expressions, see the guide to confusing JLPT negative expressions. Confusing JLPT Negative Expressions

Summary

The expressions 「ようとする」 and 「つもりだ」 are both related to intention, but they focus on different things.

• 「ようとする」 describes an action about to begin or an actual attempt.
• 「つもりだ」 describes a personal intention, decision, or plan.
• 「ようとしたとき」 often marks the moment when another event suddenly happens.
• 「ようとしない」 expresses a lack of willingness to take action.
• 「つもりだ」 is commonly used when discussing future goals and plans.

When reading JLPT passages, do not look only at the meaning of individual words.

Follow the timeline.

Ask yourself whether the person is still thinking, has already decided, or is starting to act.

That small habit will help you choose the correct answer with much more confidence.

Build Confidence Through Real JLPT Practice

Understanding a grammar explanation is an important first step.

However, the real challenge is choosing the correct expression when several similar options appear in an actual question.

RJT (Rapid Japanese Training) helps you practice JLPT vocabulary, grammar, reading, and listening questions while identifying the areas where you need more review.

Turn “I understand the meaning, but I still choose the wrong answer” into steady progress.

Practice JLPT questions with RJT