つもりで
🃏 Flashcard
つもりで
tsumori de
Tap to reveal usage
with the intention of doing~
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
tsumori de
Post ID
50971
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
with the intention of doing~
📖 How to use it
Expresses doing something with a certain intention or mindset, often as a pretense or in preparation for a future role.
Attaches to
Attach to the dictionary (plain non-past) form of a verb, or to a noun + の. For example: 行くつもりで, 医者のつもりで.
This pattern is used when you do something as if you had a certain intention or as if you were something else. It often implies that you are not actually that thing, but you act as if you were, either to practice or to motivate yourself. For example, you might study with the intention of becoming a doctor, even if you are not one yet. It can also be used to describe a hypothetical situation where you pretend to be in a certain state.
来年留学するつもりで、お金を貯めている。
Rainen ryūgaku suru tsumori de, okane o tamete iru.
I'm saving money with the intention of studying abroad next year.
子供のつもりで、素直に質問してみた。
Kodomo no tsumori de, sunao ni shitsumon shite mita.
I tried asking questions honestly, as if I were a child.
自分が店長のつもりで、店の問題を考えた。
Jibun ga tenchō no tsumori de, mise no mondai o kangaeta.
I thought about the store's problems as if I were the manager.
Not つもりだ (no で)
つもりだ states your intention or belief (e.g., 行くつもりだ = I intend to go). つもりで describes the manner or context of an action, meaning 'with the intention of' or 'in the role of'.
Register
Neutral; used in both spoken and written Japanese, but slightly more common in written or reflective contexts.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
つもりで
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat つもりで three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using つもりで. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern つもりで mean?
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With the intention of doing~
What JLPT level is つもりで?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use つもりで in a sentence?
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Attach つもりで (tsumori de) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is つもりで formal or casual Japanese?
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つもりで is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember つもりで long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.