How to Express Volition in Japanese: …（よ）う and つもりだ

ほ み
Last time, you learned how to express desires like “テレビが欲しい (I want a TV),” and “テレビが見
たい (I want to watch TV).” Now, you know how to say what you want to do. Then, if you would like to
say “I intend to buy a TV,” what should it be? In this lesson, you will tackle how to express volition.
Volition means acts of will, or decisions made by a person’s will. In order to express it, Japanese has a
particular form called “volitional form.” Let’s learn the form along with other similar expressions.

Volitional Form: …（よ）う

This can actually be utilized for making invitations and offers. We will focus on expressing volition
here. First, take a look at the conjugation.

Ru-verb: To Replace ru with you or mashou

Volition Volition (Polite)

見る (miru) 見よう (miyou) 見ましょう (mimashou)

着る (kiru) 着よう (kiyou) 着ましょう (kimashou)

食べる (taberu) 食べよう (tabeyou) 食べましょう (tabemashou)

答える (kotaeru) 答えよう (kotaeyou) 答えましょう (kotaemashou)

U-verbs: To Replace u with ou or imashou

Volition Volition (Polite)

書く (kaku) 書こう (kakou) 書きましょう (kakimashou)

話す (hanasu) 話そう (hanasou) 話しましょう (hanasimashou *si = shi)

立つ (tatu *tu = tsu) 立とう (tatou) 立ちましょう (tatimashou *ti = chi)

 Volition Volition (Polite)

飲む (nomu) 飲もう (nomou) 飲みましょう (nomimashou)

Two Exceptions

Volition Volition (Polite)

する (suru) しよう (shiyou) しましょう (shimashou)

来る (kuru) 来よう (koyou) 来ましょう (kimashou)

The volitional form expresses what you are willing to do and therefore you cannot apply the negative
form or the ta-form to it.

Examples

わたし か か
[ 私 は / が] あのテレビを 買おう / 買いましょう

[Topic / Subject] Direct Object Verb: Volitional Form

[I] will buy that TV over there.

*Talked to yourself when you find a good TV during shopping.

The basic function is to express volition which is used when you make a resolution or a decision and talk
to yourself. When you use this with other people, it will indicate an invitation like “let’s do it.” Thus,
when you would like to just tell your volition to others, you need to utilize the quotation marker と with
verbs like “思う: to think.” If you say 思っている, it indicates you made a decision a while ago and are
continuously willing to do so. By contrast, the plain form: 思う indicates a decision is made on the spot.

きょうと い
京 都に行こう。
[I] will go to Kyoto.
*Talked to yourself when the idea to go to Kyoto suddenly occurred to you.
 きょうと い い
京 都に（行こう / 行きましょう）。
Let’s go to Kyoto.
*Said when you ask your friend to go to Kyoto with you.

きょうと い おも
京 都に行こうと 思 って（いる / います）。
[I] am going to Kyoto.
*Said when you are asked “what will you do this weekend?

As you can see, the contexts are important. Here is another example.

ほん か
本 を書こう。
[I] will write a book.
*Said to yourself when you decide to write a book.

ほん か か
本 を（書こう / 書きましょう）。
Let’s write a book.
*Said when you ask your friend to write a book with you.

ほん か おも おも
本 を書こうと（ 思 う / 思 います）。
[I] will write a book.
*Said when you tell your resolution to your friend.

Difference between the Plain Form and the Volitional Form

けっこん
結婚 （する / します）よ。
[I] am going to get married. (*Fixed plan)

けっこん おも
結婚 しようと 思 って（いる / います）。
[I] am going to get married. (*Unfixed plan)
 けっこん おも
結婚 しようかと 思 って（いる / います）。
[I] am thinking about getting married.

The background behind the above examples is something like you are talking about marriage with your
friend. Then, if you use the plain form, it means future tense and indicates a fixed plan. If you use the
volitional form + と思う, it certainly indicates your will, but the plan is not fixed. If you attach か to the
volitional form, it indicates that your decision is yet to be made.