In Japanese, you can use the volitional form, or 意向形 transcribed ikōkei, to express that you have decided to do something. This form ends with either う transcribed u or よう transcribed yō. For example:
You decide to study Japanese today and say to yourself:
volitional form日本語を勉強しよう。Transcription: Nihongo o benkyō shiyō.Translation: I’ll study Japanese.When you are tired, you decide to take five and murmur:
volitional form少し休もう。Transcription: Sukoshi yasumō.Translation: I’ll take a short rest.
In this post, we’ll cover how to form and use the volitional, as well as some other ways you can express volition or determination, including with the non-past form of verbs, with 〜つもりだ transcribed tsumori da, and with 〜ことにする transcribed koto ni suru.
Let’s get started!
How to make the volitional form in Japanese?
The volitional form in Japanese will generally end with う transcribed u or よう transcribed yō. Exactly how you form it will depend on what verb group the action belongs to: ru-verb, u-verb, or irregular. Luckily, though, the volitional form does not conjugate, so there are no past or negative volitional forms to learn!
Let’s look at how to form the volitional with different kinds of verbs:
Ru-verbs:
To form the volitional of a ru-verb, replace the final る transcribed ru of the dictionary form with よう transcribed yō. See the table below for examples.
Dictionary Form Volitional Form English 食べるTranscription: taberu食べようTranscription: tabeyōeat
見るTranscription: miru見ようTranscription: miyōlook at / see
U-verbs:
To form the volitional of a u-verb, replace the final “u” with “o”, then add う transcribed u. Note, though, that the combination of “ou” at the end of the volitional form is pronounced as a long vowel and usually spelled as “ō” in romaji.
Dictionary Form Volitional Form English 会うTranscription: au会おうTranscription: aōmeet
書くTranscription: kaku書こうTranscription: kakōwrite
話すTranscription: hanasu話そうTranscription: hanasōspeak
Irregular verbs:
For irregular verbs, we simply need to memorize their volitional forms! Notice, though, that they still end in よう transcribed yō!
Dictionary Form Volitional Form English するTranscription: suruしようTranscription: shiyōdo
くるTranscription: kuruこようTranscription: koyōcome
Remember that you’ll need these irregular forms whenever you use する transcribed suru or くる transcribed kuru to make compound verbs!
Dictionary Form Volitional Form English 勉強するTranscription: benkyō suru勉強しようTranscription: benkyō shiyōto study
連れてくるTranscription: tsurete kuru連れてこようTranscription: tsurete koyōto bring someone
When to use the volitional form?
The volitional form is used to show your determination or plan to do something.
On its own, the volitional form is limited to two main uses:
Talking to yourself
You can use the volitional to express a plan to yourself, at the moment it occurs to you.
- ああ、疲れた。少し休もう。Transcription: Ā, tsukareta. Sukoshi yasumō.Translation: Phew, I’m tired. I’ll take a short rest.
- おいしそう・・・。僕も昼はラーメンにしよう。Transcription: Oishisō…. Boku mo hiru wa rāmen ni shiyō.Translation: That looks delicious…. I’ll have ramen for lunch too.
Offering a service in casual conversation
In a casual conversation, you can use the volitional form to offer a service to someone.
僕が荷物を持とう。Transcription: Boku ga nimotsu o motō.Translation: Let me carry the baggage for you.Casual
The volitional is also often used as part of a larger phrase. Let’s go through some of those constructions and when to use those.
Volitional form + と思う [to omou]
If you want to tell someone else about your own determination to do something, you’ll need to use the phrase と思う transcribed to omou after the volitional form. Literally, this means “I think that I’ll…”
You will sometimes want to put the ending と思う transcribed to omou into its te-iru form, と思っている transcribed to omotte iru. Often they’ll receive the same English translation, but the meaning is different! Here’s how you should decide which form to use:
Volitional form + と思う transcribed to omou
The normal form is typically used to express the speaker’s determination at the moment of decision.
volitionalnormal form来週から始めようと思います。Transcription: Raishū kara hajimeyō to omoimasu.Translation: I think that I’ll start next week.Volitional form + と思っている transcribed to omotte iru
The te-iru form is used when the decision was made previously but still hasn’t been carried out, so it’s still just a plan in the speaker’s mind.
volitional formte-iru form来週から始めようと思っています。Transcription: Raishū kara hajimeyō to omotte imasu.Translation: I’ve been thinking I’ll start it next month.The speaker had already made the decision to start next month prior to the conversation, but still hasn’t started it.You’ll also always use the te-iru form if you’re reporting on someone else’s plan or determination. Usually, in this case, you’ll also use it with a hearsay expression, like そうだ transcribed sō dameaning I’ve heard…, since that’s the only way you’d know about someone else’s plans is if somebody told you about them.
- volitional formte-iru form✅ ジョンは日本に留学しようと思っているそうだ。Transcription: Jon wa Nihon ni ryūgaku shiyō to omotte iru sō da.Translation: I’ve heard that John thinks that he’ll study abroad in Japan.
- volitional formnormal form❌ ジョンは日本に留学しようと思うそうだ。Transcription: Jon wa Nihon ni ryūgaku shiyō to omou sōda.
Volitional form + か transcribed ka
You can use the volitional form before the question marker か transcribed ka to indicate that you’re still uncertain about the decision, so it could go either way. You’ll usually translate this with a phrase like “maybe I will…” or “I guess I will….”
volitional formquestion markerTalking to yourself:そろそろ仕事を始めようか。Transcription: Sorosoro shigoto o hajimeyō ka.Translation: I guess I’ll start my work soon.Telling someone else a plan using the te-iru form of と思う [to omou]:日本に留学しようかと思っています。Transcription: Nihon ni ryūgaku shiyō ka to omotte imasu.Translation: I’ve been thinking that maybe I’ll study abroad in Japan.Volitional form + とする transcribed to suru
You’ll use the volitional form before とする transcribed to suru in two main situations:
When you’re about to take action, based on your determination: “to be about to…”
volitional form僕が勉強を始めようとすると、なぜかいつも電話がかかってくる。Transcription: Boku ga benkyō o hajimeyō to suru to, nazeka itsumo denwa ga kakatte kuru.Translation: Whenever I am about to begin studying, somehow I always get a phone call.When the speaker tries and fails to do something: “try to… (without success)”
volitional formあかりをつけようとしたが、つかなかった。Transcription: Akari o tsukeyō to shita ga, tsukanakatta.Translation: I tried to turn on the light, but it didn’t come on.
You can also use としない transcribed to shinai, the negative form of とする meaning to suru, in a situation where someone continues to not do something, despite the wishes or expectations of others.
volitional formうちの猫は、まぐろのトロ以外は食べようとしない。Transcription: Uchi no neko wa, maguro no toro igai wa tabeyō to shinai.Translation: Our cat makes no effort to eat anything except fatty tuna.
What are some other ways to discuss plans and decisions?
There are other ways to discuss a plan or determination to do something without using the volitional form. In this section we’ll cover how to do this using…
the non-past form of the verb
〜つもりだ transcribed tsumori da
〜ことにする transcribed koto ni suru
Let’s find out how to use them!
Non-past form of verbs
If you’re discussing a plan that you consider set, solid, or official, you can discuss it with the standard non-past form of the verb, rather than the volitional. The non-past forms are the dictionary form and its polite and negative equivalents.
Compare the translations between the non-past vs. volitional forms below:
- non-past来週、日本へ行く / 行きます。Transcription: Raishū, Nihon e iku / ikimasu.Translation: I’m going to Japan next week.This is a set, scheduled plan that you could consider official. Probably you’ve bought the tickets, you’ve told people you’re going, you’ve requested the time off etc.
- volitional来週、日本に行こうと思っています。Transcription: Raishū, Nihon ni ikou to omotte imasu.Translation: I think I’ll go to Japan next week.You may be personally confident in your plans, but it is still just an intention in your own mind, not something you’d consider set, solid, or official.
So while you’ll use the volitional for a plan that you could reasonably introduce with a phrase like “I think…,” “I’ve decided to…” “I plan to…” or “I’m determined to…,” if it doesn’t make sense to use a phrase like that, it might be better to use the non-past instead.
You can also use the negative non-past for a set, solid, or official plan to not do something.
You can use the non-past form of verbs to express your plan at the moment of decision, as long as you are making a set, solid, or official plan.
If you want to talk about someone else’s plan, using the non-past, it will sound more natural and accurate to combine these endings with hearsay expressions such as 〜そうだ transcribed -sō dameaning I’ve heard that…, since that clarifies how you know.
〜つもりだ [-tsumori da]
You can use the plain form (affirmative or negative) of a verb before the ending 〜つもりだ transcribed -tsumori da in very similar situations to when you might otherwise use the volitional.
Planned Action
plain form
つもり transcribed tsumori is a noun meaning “intention,” so つもりだ transcribed tsumori da literally means “is an intention.” Using this structure will make your sound a bit more certain or emphatic than simply using the volitional form, but it still doesn’t represent a set, solid, or official plan.
Here are some other variations on this structure:
You canuse the past tense of 〜つもりだ transcribed tsumori da to discuss a past intention.
plain formpast tense今日は映画を見に行くつもりだったが、忙しくて行けなかった。Transcription: Kyō wa eiga o mi ni iku tsumori datta ga, isogashikute ikenakatta.Translation: I intended to go see a movie today, but I couldn’t go because I was busy.You can use the negative form of 〜つもりだ transcribed tsumori da to say that you have no intention to do something:
plain form (affirmative)negative formいえ、反対するつもりはありません。Transcription: Ie, hantai suru tsumori wa arimasen.Translation: No, I don’t mean to oppose it.You can use a phrase with つもり transcribed tsumori to modify a noun, as in “those who intend to…”, as long as you follow it with the particle の transcribed no, rather than だ transcribed da.
plain formつもり [tsumori]nounキャンプに参加するつもりの人は手をあげてください。Transcription: Kyanpu ni sanka suru tsumori no hito wa te o agete kudasai.Translation: People who intend to participate in the camping trip, please raise (your) hands.You can ask about someone’s intentions using this ending too. In casual contexts, だ transcribed da is omitted and the question marker か transcribed ka is usually omitted too.
今夜、ニックのパーティーに行くつもり？Transcription: Konya, Nikku no pātii ni iku tsumori?Translation: Are you planning to attend the party at Nick’s tonight?To answer “yes” to a question like this, you can either use the whole phrase, verb + つもりだ transcribed tsumori or give the short answer form そのつもりだ transcribed sono tsumori da. In both cases, the だ transcribed da is optional. can be omitted in both answers too.
Long “yes” answer:うん、行くつもり(だ)。Transcription: Un, iku tsumori(da).Translation: Yeah, I intend to go.Short “yes” answer:うん、そのつもり(だ)。Transcription: Un, sono tsumori(da).Translation: Yeah, that’s my intention.If you want to answer “no”, you should clarify whether you don’t have an intention at all, or if you intend to not do something!
You plan to not do it:いや、行かないつもり(だ)。Transcription: Iya, ikanai tsumori(da).Translation: Nope, I intend to not go.You have no plan to do it:いや、そのつもりはない。Transcription: Iya, sono tsumori wa nai.Translation: Nope, I have no such intention.You can add よ transcribed yo to soften the tone of either negative response, but be aware that adding this sounds rather feminine!
You can also use 〜つもりだ transcribed tsumori da along with expressions such as 〜らしい transcribed ...rashiimeaning it seems that… or だろう transcribed darōmeaning I guess…/perhaps… to make a conjecture about someone’s intentions. To use with these expressions, we need to always drop だ transcribed da as below:
conjecture expression斉藤さんは会社をやめるつもりらしい。Transcription: Saitō san wa kaisha o yameru tsumori rashii.Translation: It seems that Mr. Saito is intending to leave the company for good.たぶんチュンさんは国に帰るつもりだろう。Transcription: Tabun Chun san wa kuni ni kaeru tsumori darō.Translation: I’d guess Chun is intending to go back to her home country.
A related expression: 〜予定だ [yotei da]
The ending 〜予定だ transcribed yotei da can be used much like 〜つもりだ transcribed -tsumori da in a sentence, but where つもり transcribed tsumori means “intention,” 予定 transcribed yotei means “scheduled plan.” As a result, 〜予定だ transcribed yotei da tends to be used when a plan is scheduled officially.
- dictionary form明日から１週間留守にする予定です。Transcription: Ashita kara isshūkan rusu ni suru yotei desu.Translation: I plan to be away from home for one week starting tomorrow.
- noun + の [no]家に帰るのは 火曜日の予定です。Transcription: Ie ni kaeru no wa kayōbi no yotei desu.Translation: I’m planning to return on Tuesday.Literally: My coming home is planned for Tuesday.
〜ことにする [-koto ni suru]
You can use 〜ことにする transcribed koto ni suru to express that you’ve made a decision to do or not do something. This phrase follows a plain, non-past form, either affirmative or negative.
Planned Action
plain, non-past
Using this phrase focuses on the fact that a decision was made: now or in the past you’ve changed your plans. You can change the tense of the verb する transcribed suru to reflect when the decision is made.
The non-past of 〜ことにする transcribed koto ni suru is used at the moment of decision. In this case, this ending works a lot like similarly to the volitional form 〜(よ)う or the plain non-past form.
- dictionary formSpeaker A:パパ、今日はママの誕生日だよ。Transcription: Papa, kyō wa mama no tanjōbi da yo.Translation: Dad, today is Mom’s birthday, you know.Speaker B:あ、そうか。じゃあ、バラの花とケーキを買って帰ることにするよ。Transcription: A, sō ka. Jā, bara no hana to kēki o katte kaeru koto ni suru yo.Translation: Oh, that’s right. Well then, I’ll pick up roses and a cake on my way home.
- negative form (plain, non-past)Speaker A:たまには早く帰ってきてほしいんだけど。Transcription: Tama ni wa hayaku kaette kite hoshii n da kedo.Translation: I want you to come home early once in a while, you know.Speaker B:そうだね。じゃあ、今日は残業しないことにするよ。Transcription: Sō da ne. Jā, kyō wa zangyō shinai koto ni suru yo.Translation: Right. Well then, I will not work overtime today.
The past tense of the expression, 〜ことにした transcribed koto ni shita, should be used if the the decision has been already made:
plain, non-past来年日本に行くことにしました。Transcription: Rainen Nihon ni iku koto ni shimashita.Translation: I have decided to go to Japan next year.天気が悪くなりそうだから、キャンプには行かないことにした。Transcription: Tenki ga waruku narisō da kara, kyanpu ni wa ikanai koto ni shita.Translation: Since the weather seems to deteriorate, I’ve decided not to go camping.To learn more about 〜ことにする transcribed koto ni suru and some related expressions, check out our post on expressing change in Japanese!
To sum up
In this post, we’ve covered when and how to use the volitional form in Japanese, and also looked at some other forms you can use to express your plans, decisions, or intentions. Here are the main points to remember:
On its own, the volitional form (ending in 〜う or 〜よう), is mostly used to tell yourself what you’re going to do next or to offer a service in a casual context. However, it can do more as part as a larger phrase:
Volitional form + と思う transcribed to omou → to tell someone else about your plans, or someone else’s plans, with と思っている transcribed to omotte iru.
Volitional form + か transcribed ka → to tell someone about a plan you have that’s still a bit uncertain
Volitional form + とする transcribed to suru → to tell someone you’re about to take action or that you tried and failed to do something
You can also use other phrases to talk about your future plans, including…
The non-past form → for a plan that is more solid, set, or official
The non-past form + 〜つもりだ transcribed tsumori da → for an established intention
The non-past form + 〜ことにする transcribed koto ni suru → for a decision made in the past or in the moment
Ready to practice what you’ve learned? Check out these Japanese volitional form activities to test your skills. Happy learning!
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