N4 · Wanting and intending
Thinking of doing, trying to do
the volitional with とおもう and とする
The volitional plus とおもう says what you are thinking of doing; plus とする, what somebody tries or is about to do.
The volitional form — 行こう, 食べよう, しよう, 来よう — means "let's" on its own. Followed by と思う it reports an intention forming in your mind: 来年、運転を習おうと思います, "I'm thinking of learning to drive next year". It is softer and less settled than つもり, which makes it the polite default for telling people your plans.
と思っています says that the idea has been with you for a while; と思います can be a thought you have just had. と思います speaks for the speaker only, so for somebody else use と思っています: 兄は会社を辞めようと思っています, "My brother is thinking of leaving his job".
With とする the meaning moves from thinking to doing: (よ)うとする is "to try to" or "to be about to". 出かけようとしたとき、電話が鳴りました is "Just as I was about to go out, the phone rang". It describes an attempt, and very often one that is interrupted or fails.
English speakers confuse (よ)うとする with てみる, because both come out as "try". てみる means actually doing something to see what it is like; (よ)うとする means making the effort, whether or not it succeeds. "I tried natto and liked it" is 納豆を食べてみました; "I tried to eat it but couldn't" is 食べようとしましたが、食べられませんでした.
The form
stem (regular) stem (irregular) ending auxiliary verb
| thinking of going | 行こうと思う |
| thinking of eating | 食べようと思う |
| thinking of learning | 習おうと思う |
| thinking of doing | しようと思う |
| thinking of coming | 来ようと思う |
| trying to go out | 出かけようとする |
| was about to sleep | 寝ようとした |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
The volitional plus と思います tells somebody what you are thinking of doing.
明日は早く起きようと思います。I am thinking of getting up early tomorrow.
と思っています is a plan you have had for some time, and the form to use about somebody else.
前から留学しようと思っています。I have been thinking of studying abroad for some time.
The volitional plus とする means trying, or being about to.
寝ようとしたとき、地震がありました。Just as I was going to sleep, there was an earthquake.
An attempt that fails is (よ)うとしましたが and the result.
ドアを開けようとしましたが、開きませんでした。I tried to open the door, but it would not open.
A closer look
Wondering whether to
Put か after the volitional and the plan turns into a question you are turning over: 行こうかと思っています, "I'm wondering whether to go". It is gentler still than the plain 行こうと思う, and common when you are thinking aloud in front of somebody.
And with どう: どうしようか is "what shall I do?", the sentence for any small crisis, and どうしようかと思っています is "I'm not sure what to do".
Exceptions and special cases (1)
-
the subject of とする is not a person — a door, a train, the sun
(よ)うとする means "to be about to", never "to try".
電車のドアが閉まろうとしていました。The train doors were just about to close.
Only someone with a will can make an effort, so with a thing only the sense of something on the point of happening remains.
How to spot it
- 〜(よ)うと思う
- 〜(よ)うと思っています
- 〜(よ)うとする
- 〜(よ)うとしたとき
Example sentences
今晩はカレーを作ろうと思います。I think I'll make curry tonight.
夏休みに運転免許を取ろうと思っています。I'm thinking of getting my driving licence over the summer holidays.
来年から一人で住もうと思っています。I'm thinking of living on my own from next year.
家を出ようとしたとき、雨が降り出しました。Just as I was leaving the house, it started to rain.
赤ちゃんが立とうとしています。The baby is trying to stand up.
名前を思い出そうとしましたが、思い出せませんでした。I tried to remember the name, but I could not.
7 more example sentences
週末は部屋を掃除しようと思います。I think I'll clean my room this weekend.
会社を辞めようと思ったことがありますか。Have you ever thought of leaving your job?
今日は疲れたから、もう寝ようと思う。I'm tired today, so I think I'll go to bed now.
夕飯に何を作ろうかと考えています。I'm wondering what to make for dinner.
猫が窓から逃げようとしています。The cat is trying to get out through the window.
電話をかけようとしたら、向こうからかかってきました。Just as I was about to call, they rang me.
弟は何度も起きようとしましたが、起きられませんでした。My brother tried again and again to get up, but could not.
Worth knowing (2)
-
Telling a superior your plans
At work, と思っております replaces と思っています. It is the humble form, and the usual way to announce a plan to a superior or a client.
来月から新しい仕事を始めようと思っております。I am planning to start a new job next month.
-
Not even trying
The negative (よ)うとしない describes somebody who will not make the effort at all. It is a complaint, and a common one about other people.
息子は全然勉強しようとしません。My son will not even try to study.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
With the dictionary form, と思います is a guess: "I think I will probably go", as if predicting your own behaviour from outside. To tell someone what you have in mind to do, Japanese needs the volitional: 行こうと思います.
The volitional plus とおもう is a plan in your head; plus とする it is an attempt in the world.
Your turn
9 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.