ようと思う means be thinking of doing. It is a JLPT N4 Japanese grammar pattern used to express this idea in natural Japanese.
This English meaning is chosen independently from the source-list gloss so it stays natural, concise, and useful for learners searching for ようと思う.
What does ようと思う mean?
Use ようと思う when you want to express be thinking of doing in a Japanese sentence.
Natural translations include:
- be thinking of doing
- to express “be thinking of doing” naturally
- the closest natural meaning in context
How to form ようと思う
Volitional form + と思う
Examples of the pattern:
- Volitional form + と思う
- ようと思う
- related form: つもり
When is ようと思う used?
Use ようと思う in situations like:
- reading or writing JLPT N4-level sentences
- making a sentence more precise than a basic N5 pattern
- recognizing natural grammar in conversation, signs, or short passages
Tone and register:
- usually neutral unless the pattern itself is casual, formal, or written
- common in JLPT N4 grammar study and everyday Japanese
ようと思う example sentences
- 週末に映画を見ようと思います。 — I am thinking of watching a movie this weekend.
- 来年、日本へ行こうと思っています。 — I am thinking of going to Japan next year.
- 今日は早く寝ようと思います。 — I think I will go to bed early today.
- 新しい仕事を探そうと思っています。 — I am thinking of looking for a new job.
- 先生に聞いてみようと思います。 — I think I will try asking the teacher.
Nuance of ようと思う
The key nuance is be thinking of doing in context, not a word-for-word English replacement.
This matters because ようと思う can express ability, comparison, intention, appearance, effort, or difficulty depending on the surrounding sentence. Read the whole sentence before choosing the English translation.
ようと思う vs つもり
Both patterns can appear in related sentences, but they do different jobs.
ようと思う:
- is the target JLPT N4 pattern in this lesson
- focuses on be thinking of doing
つもり:
- is useful for comparison because learners often confuse nearby forms
- may change the tone, direction, evidence, or sentence focus
Quick contrast examples:
- Target pattern: 週末に映画を見ようと思います。 — I am thinking of watching a movie this weekend.
- Related pattern with つもり: compare what changes in difficulty, comparison, intention, appearance, or certainty.
Common mistakes with ようと思う
Watch out for these mistakes:
- Copying a dictionary gloss without checking the sentence context
- Using the wrong verb, adjective, or noun form
- Confusing ようと思う with つもり because the English can sound similar
Is ようと思う on the JLPT?
Yes. ようと思う is connected to JLPT N4 grammar in this blog.
That means learners should be able to:
- recognize it in reading
- understand its nuance in context
- use it in simple original sentences
Practice questions for ようと思う
Try making your own sentences with these prompts:
- Write one short sentence using the basic structure.
- Replace the subject, time, or object and keep the same grammar point.
- Compare your sentence with the related pattern above.
Learn ようと思う with Kanjiru
If you want to review ようと思う together with kanji, vocabulary, and other JLPT N4 patterns, Kanjiru helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
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