The Japanese Volitional Form (意向形 – ikōkei) is a fundamental verb conjugation that allows speakers to express their intentions, make proposals, or even suggest actions to others. It’s a versatile form that adds nuance to your Japanese communication. Let’s break down how to form it and its various applications, including the very common “I’m thinking of doing…” pattern.
How to Form the Volitional Form
The way you conjugate a verb into the Volitional Form depends on its group:
| Verb Group | How to Form | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 (U-verbs) | Change the final “-u” sound to an “-o” sound and add 「う」 (-u). | 飲む (nomu) ⇒ 飲もう (nomou) – Let’s drink / I’ll drink 行く (iku) ⇒行こう (ikou) – Let’s go / I’ll go 話す (hanasu) ⇒ 話そう (hanasou) – Let’s talk / I’ll talk |
| Group 2 (Ru-verbs) | Remove 「る」 (-ru) and add 「よう」 (-yō). | 食べる (taberu) ⇒ 食べよう (tabeyou) – Let’s eat / I’ll eat 見る (miru) ⇒見よう (miyō) – Let’s see / I’ll watch 起きる (okiru) ⇒起きよう (okiyō) – Let’s wake up / I’ll wake up |
| Group 3 (Irregular Verbs) | These have irregular conjugations. | する (suru) ⇒しよう (shiyou) – Let’s do / I’ll do 来る (kuru) ⇒ 来よう (koyou) – Let’s come / I’ll come |
Main Uses of the Volitional Form
The Volitional Form primarily serves three key functions in Japanese.
Use 1: Expressing Your Own Strong Will or Determination
You can use the Volitional Form to declare your own firm intention or decision to do something. This can be used in self-talk or when expressing a strong personal resolve.
- Examples:
- 「よし、頑張ろう！」 (Yosh! Ganbarou!)
- (Alright! I’ll do my best! / Let’s do my best!) – A strong personal resolve.
- 「もう遅いから、帰ろう。」 (Mou osoi kara, kaerou.)
- (It’s late, so I’ll go home. / I’m going to go home.) – Declaring your intention.
- 「今度こそ、成功させよう！」 (Kondo koso, seikō saseyou!)
- (This time, I’ll definitely make it a success!) – Expressing strong determination.
- 「よし、頑張ろう！」 (Yosh! Ganbarou!)
Use 2: Inviting or Suggesting to Others
This is a very common use, especially among friends or family. You use the Volitional Form to suggest doing something together or to invite someone to join you. It’s more casual than using ～ませんか (masen ka).
- Examples:
- 「早く行こう！」 (Hayaku ikou!)
- (Let’s go quickly!) – Suggesting to go together immediately.
- 「一緒にご飯を食べに行こうか？」 (Issho ni gohan o tabe ni ikou ka?)
- (Shall we go eat together?) – Inviting someone to eat.
- 「もう少し、ここで待とう。」 (Mō sukoshi, koko de matō.)
- (Let’s wait here a little longer.) – Proposing to wait together.
- 「早く行こう！」 (Hayaku ikou!)
Use 3: 「～ようと思っています」 – Expressing Your Intent or Vague Plans
This is a highly practical and frequently used pattern. By adding 「と思っています」 (to omotte imasu) to the Volitional Form, you express that you are thinking of doing something or have a vague plan or intention to do it. It indicates that the idea or plan exists in your mind at the present moment.
- Structure: Volitional Form of a verb ＋ と思っています (to omotte imasu)
- Nuance:
- It shows that while you have an intention (the “～よう” part), it’s not necessarily a definite decision yet. You are currently “thinking” or “considering” it.
- It’s perfect for discussing future actions that are still somewhat open or flexible.
- Examples:
- 来年、日本へ留学しようと思っています。 (Rainen, Nihon e ryūgaku shiyō to omotte imasu.)
- (I’m thinking of studying abroad in Japan next year.) – Indicates a plan that’s being considered, not necessarily finalized.
- この週末は、家でゆっくり休もうと思っています。 (Kono shūmatsu wa, ie de yukkuri yasumou to omotte imasu.)
- (I’m planning to rest at home this weekend.) – Expresses an intention for the weekend.
- 新しいスマホを買おうと思っています。 (Atarashii sumaho o kaou to omotte imasu.)
- (I’m thinking of buying a new smartphone.) – Shows an intention or consideration to purchase.
- 来年、日本へ留学しようと思っています。 (Rainen, Nihon e ryūgaku shiyō to omotte imasu.)
In Summary
The Volitional Form is essential for expressing your own intentions (like “I’ll do it!”) and for making suggestions or invitations (“Let’s do it!”). When combined with と思っています, it becomes a powerful tool for conveying your current thoughts and plans about future actions.
By understanding these nuances, you’ll be able to communicate your ideas and intentions more clearly and naturally in Japanese. Keep practicing, and you’ll master this versatile form in no time!