新しい銃を買おうと思う。 あたらしい じゅう を かおう と おもう。 atarashii juu o kaou to omou. I think I’ll buy a new piece.
Read the explanation below to understand the nuance of how this grammar structure is used.
A’ight, sit down. Class is in session. You wanna talk street-level Japanese? You came to the right place. Forget that textbook bullshit. We’re gonna talk about how to really say what’s on your mind when shit gets real.
🇯🇵 ～（よ）うと思う (V-(yo)u to omou) – “I think I will…”
A’ight, real talk—the user prompt said ようにおもう (you ni omou), but that’s a different, weaker joint. If you mean “I think I will…” or “I’m plannin’ to…”, you mean the volitional form + と思う (to omou). That’s what we’re learnin’ today, ’cause that’s the one with backbone.
🎤 The Nuance
Yo, V-(yo)u to omou ain’t just thinkin’. This is about what you plan to do. It’s that internal decision, that “Yeah, I’m ’bout to…” energy. It’s not some weak-ass “maybe,” it’s you settin’ your mind on a move, tellin’ yourself “this is the play.” It’s less about a fact, and all about your intention, your will. You’re makin’ a call, even if it’s just in your own head for now.
💰 Common Situations
- Schemin’ on the future: “Yeah, I think I’m gonna hit that score next week.” (来週、あそこのヤマをいただこうと思う)
- Makin’ a split decision: “A’ight, f*ck this, I think I’m gonna bounce.” (もういい、帰ろうと思う)
- Tellin’ the crew the plan: “Listen up, I think we’re gonna lay low for a bit.” (いいか、俺はしばらくおとなしくしようと思う)
The Metaphor
Think of V-(よ)うと思う like cocking a hammer on a revolver. You ain’t pulled the trigger yet, but you’ve made the decision. Your finger is on the trigger (that’s the と思う), and the hammer is back (that’s the V-よう). It’s the moment right before the action, full of intent.
Read the table below then use it to conjugate some words you know.
Here’s the breakdown of how you build this joint.
| Verb Type | Plain Form | Volitional Form (～(よ)う) | Full Phrase (～(よ)うと思う) | English |
| Godan (u-verb) | 殺す (korosu) | 殺そう (korosou) | 殺そうと思う (korosou to omou) | I think I’ll kill (him). |
| Godan (u-verb) | 待つ (matsu) | 待とう (matou) | 待とうと思う (matou to omou) | I think I’ll wait. |
| Ichidan (ru-verb) | 逃げる (nigeru) | 逃げよう (nigeyou) | 逃げようと思う (nigeyou to omou) | I think I’ll escape. |
| Ichidan (ru-verb) | 埋める (umeru) | 埋めよう (umeyou) | 埋めようと思う (umeyou to omou) | I think I’ll bury (it). |
| Irregular | する (suru) | しよう (shiyou) | しようと思う (shiyou to omou) | I think I’ll do (it). |
| Irregular | 来る (kuru) | 来よう (koyou) | 来ようと思う (koyou to omou) | I think I’ll come. |
It’s all about switchin’ that verb to the Volitional Form—that’s the “let’s do it” form—and then smackin’ 「と思う」 (to omou) on the end. For u-verbs (Godan), you take that final ‘u’ sound and flip it to an ‘o’ sound and add う (u). So, iku (go) becomes ikou (let’s go). For ru-verbs (Ichidan), you just drop the ‘ru’ and add ‘you’ (よう). Taberu (eat) becomes tabeyou (let’s eat). Then 「と思う」 just means “I think.” Put ’em together, and you’re expressin’ your intention.
Listen to and repeat the sentences below.
Peep these examples from the street.
- あいつをそろそろ消そうと思う。 あいつ を そろそろ けそう と おもう。 aitsu o sorosoro kesou to omou. I think I’ll “erase” that guy pretty soon.
- 今夜、奴のシマを荒らそうと思う。 こんや、やつ の しま を あらそう と おもう。 kon’ya, yatsu no shima o arasou to omou. I think I’ll tear up his territory tonight.
- このヤマが終わったら、足を洗おうと思う。 この やま が おわったら、あし を あらおう と おもう。 kono yama ga owattara, ashi o araou to omou. When this job is over, I think I’ll wash my hands (get out of the game).
- ボスには本当のことを言おうと思う。 ボス には ほんとう の こと を いおう と おもう。 bosu niwa hontou no koto o iou to omou. I think I’ll tell the boss the truth.
- 裏切り者はコンクリートで固めて沈めようと思う。 うらぎりもの は コンクリート で かためて しずめよう と おもう。 uragirimono wa konkuriito de katamete shizumeyou to omou. I think I’ll set the traitor in concrete and sink him.
- 今日は事務所に泊まろうと思う。 きょう は じむしょ に とまろう と おもう。 kyou wa jimusho ni tomarou to omou. I think I’ll stay at the (gang) office tonight.
- 警察が来る前に、証拠を燃やそうと思う。 けいさつ が くる まえ に、しょうこ を もやそう と おもう。 keisatsu ga kuru mae ni, shouko o moyasou to omou. I think I’ll burn the evidence before the cops come.
- あの組とは手を切ろうと思う。 あの くみ とは て を きろう と おもう。 ano kumi towa te o kirou to omou. I think I’ll cut ties with that family.
- この件は金で解決しようと思う。 この けん は かね で かいけつ しよう と おもう。 kono ken wa kane de kaiketsu shiyou to omou. I think I’ll solve this matter with money.
- 兄貴の仇は俺がとろうと思う。 あにき の かたき は おれ が とろう と おもう。 aniki no kataki wa ore ga torou to omou. I think I’ll be the one to avenge my “big brother” (aniki).
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