JLPT N3 grammar
つもり (intention) — Meaning & Examples
N4 meaning: "intend to / plan to." [dictionary form] + つもり. 行くつもり = plan to go.
つもり — "Intend To / Believe That"
〜つもり has TWO important meanings at N3.
Meaning 1: Intention (most common — from N4)
[dictionary form] + つもりです = "I intend to / plan to"
来年、日本に行くつもりです。
= I plan to go to Japan next year.
大学を卒業したら、働くつもりです。
= After graduating, I intend to work.
Negative:
[ない-form] + つもりです = intend not to
もう食べないつもりです。
= I don't intend to eat anymore.
Meaning 2 (N3 NEW!): Belief / Self-Perception
[past form] + つもりです = "I thought I had / I believed I did"
Often with a sense that the speaker is wrong:
気をつけたつもりですが、忘れました。
= I thought I had been careful, but I forgot.
説明したつもりだったけど、分かってもらえなかった。
= I thought I had explained it, but they didn't understand.
お金をたくさん貯めたつもりだったのに、まだ足りない。
= I thought I had saved a lot of money, but it's still not enough.
Self-perception use:
若いつもりですが、もう50歳です。
= I think of myself as young, but I'm already 50.
Pro tip: The "thought I had but didn't quite" meaning of つもり is uniquely Japanese — there's no perfect English equivalent. Mastering this is a big N3 milestone!
Practice questions
Try these 3 questions on つもり (intention). Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. "That can't possibly be true!" is?
- そんなつもりです
- そんなはずです
- そんなはずがない
- そんなことだけ
Show answer
Answer: そんなはずがない
はずがない = "no way / can't possibly be." そんなはずがない = "that can't be true!" Strong disbelief.
2. "So that's why your Japanese is good!" uses?
- わけ (wake)
- はず (hazu)
- つもり (tsumori)
- ようになる (you ni naru)
Show answer
Answer: わけ (wake)
〜わけですね = "it follows that / so that's why." Used to draw conclusions from evidence. 上手なわけですね = So that's why you're good!
3. "It's not that I dislike it..." (partial denial) is?
- 嫌いなはずではない
- 嫌いなわけではない
- 嫌いなつもりではない
- 嫌いではないつもり
Show answer
Answer: 嫌いなわけではない
わけではない = "it's not that..." (partial denial). Softer than just "not." 嫌いなわけではないが = "It's not that I hate it, but..."
Practise つもり (intention) in the free app
This point is part of the “Expectation and Reasoning — はず・わけ・つもり” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N3 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N3 grammar points
From the same lesson: Expectation and Reasoning — はず・わけ・つもり
Frequently asked questions
What does つもり (intention) mean?
N4 meaning: "intend to / plan to." [dictionary form] + つもり. 行くつもり = plan to go.
Is つもり (intention) on the JLPT N3 test?
つもり (intention) is taught in the JLPT N3 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Expectation and Reasoning — はず・わけ・つもり”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise つもり (intention)?
Open the “Expectation and Reasoning — はず・わけ・つもり” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N3 mock exams, with no ads.