つもり vs 予定: Intention vs Schedule (N4 Guide)
The core difference
Both point ahead, but つもり reports a subjective intention while 予定 reports an objective, scheduled arrangement:
| Form | Core idea | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜つもり | Personal intention / resolve (can change) | 日本に行くつもりです = I intend to go to Japan |
| 〜予定 | Fixed, arranged schedule (often external) | 日本に行く予定です = I'm scheduled/planning to go to Japan |
つもり attaches to a plain verb (行くつもり). 予定 attaches with の or a plain verb + する予定 (会議の予定 / 行く予定). The grammar difference mirrors the meaning: つもり is a mind, 予定 is an item on a list.
See it in one situation
Same trip, two different feelings about it:
ヤッタンは来週、京都に行くつもりです。
ヤッタンは らいしゅう、きょうとに いく つもりです。
Yattan intends to go to Kyoto next week.
つもり — it's Yattan's own plan; if he changes his mind, it changes.
ヤッタンは来週、京都に行く予定です。
ヤッタンは らいしゅう、きょうとに いく よていです。
Yattan is scheduled to go to Kyoto next week.
予定 — the trip is arranged (tickets, dates), more fixed and official.
The first is a decision in Yattan's mind. The second is an arrangement already set up.
〜つもり — your personal intention
Use it for what you (or another person) intend or resolve to do. It's subjective, so it can shift — and it's a little awkward for trains, timetables, or events that have their own schedule.
今日は早く寝るつもりだったのに、ゲームをしてしまった。
きょうは はやく ねる つもりだったのに、ゲームを してしまった。
I'd intended to sleep early today, but I ended up playing games.
つもりだった — the intention was there, but it didn't happen. A very common つもり pattern.
モチは今年、漢字を五百個覚えるつもりだ。
モチは ことし、かんじを ごひゃっこ おぼえる つもりだ。
Mochi intends to learn 500 kanji this year.
A personal resolve — it lives in Mochi's head.
Because つもり is about a mind, it fits people, not timetables. Full details: 〜つもり guide.
〜予定 — the scheduled arrangement
Use it for a fixed plan on the schedule: meetings, trains, ceremonies, official events, and plans set up by others. It's objective, so it works naturally for third parties and things with no will of their own.
会議は三時に始まる予定です。
かいぎは さんじに はじまる よていです。
The meeting is scheduled to start at three.
予定 — an arranged time, not anyone's personal wish.
次の電車は十時に出発する予定です。
つぎの でんしゃは じゅうじに しゅっぱつする よていです。
The next train is scheduled to depart at ten.
A train has no intention, so 予定 — never つもり.
先生は来月、アメリカに出張する予定です。
せんせいは らいげつ、アメリカに しゅっちょうする よていです。
The teacher is scheduled to take a business trip to America next month.
Talking about a third party's arranged plan — 予定 is safe and neutral.
Full details: 〜予定 guide.
A useful contrast: つもりだった vs 予定だった
- 〜つもりだった = "I had intended to…" — often implies it didn't happen (you changed your mind or couldn't).
- 〜予定だった = "it was scheduled to…" — often implies the arrangement was changed or cancelled by circumstances.
So 行くつもりだった leans on your will ("I meant to go"), while 行く予定だった leans on the schedule ("it was on the calendar to go").
Common mistakes
- Using つもり for trains, classes, or events. A timetable has no will: 授業は九時に始まる予定です, not 始まるつもりです.
- Using つもり for a third party's official plan. For someone else's arranged schedule, 予定 sounds more neutral: 社長は明日来る予定です is safer than 来るつもりです (which can sound like you're claiming to know their inner intention).
- Wrong attachment for 予定. With a noun you need の: 会議の予定 (not 会議予定 in careful speech), and with a verb use plain form + 予定 (行く予定).
- Forgetting つもり needs a verb (or plain adjective), not a bare noun. Say 旅行するつもり, not 旅行つもり.
Quick recap
- つもり = personal intention / resolve → subjective, can change → attaches to a plain verb.
- 予定 = fixed, arranged schedule → objective, often external → の予定 / する予定.
- Trains, meetings, ceremonies, third-party official plans → 予定.
- つもりだった = intended but (often) didn't happen; 予定だった = was scheduled but (often) changed.
Your turn
Choose つもり or 予定 for each sentence.
Start the 6-question drill →Frequently asked questions
What's the simplest way to remember つもり vs 予定?
つもり is what's in your head (a personal intention you can still change); 予定 is what's on the calendar (a fixed, arranged schedule). My will vs. the plan on the books.
Why can't I use つもり for a train or a meeting?
つもり expresses a personal intention, and a train or meeting has no will of its own. Their times are set by a schedule, so you use 予定: 電車は十時に出発する予定です.
What does つもりだった mean?
It means 'I had intended to…' and usually hints that it didn't happen — e.g. 早く寝るつもりだった ('I meant to sleep early,' but I didn't).
How do I attach 予定 to a noun?
Use の: 会議の予定 ('the meeting schedule'), 旅行の予定 ('travel plans'). With a verb, use the plain form: 行く予定です.
The patterns compared here
Full guide for each pattern in this comparison: