つもりだ – Expressing Personal Assumptions or Feelings About Actions
In Japanese, つもりだ is often used to express the speaker's subjective belief or intention regarding their own actions. This phrase suggests that the speaker believes or feels they have acted a certain way or achieved something, though it may not match reality or others’ perspectives. It’s a versatile way to talk about personal reflections or assumptions that may be understood differently by others.
Note: つもりだ can also express plans or intentions for future actions. This usage is common, but here we focus on the self-reflective meaning of つもりだ to describe assumptions and personal beliefs about past actions.
Meanings and Usages of つもりだ
- Expressing Personal Assumption: Use つもりだ to convey your belief or feeling about what you’ve done. This often implies that the speaker is confident in their effort or the action taken, though it may not align with others' interpretations.
- Conveying Intent or Feeling About an Action: This usage is helpful when the speaker wishes to describe their intended outcome or what they thought they had done, even if it might not appear that way.
In English, つもりだ can be translated as "I believe that…" or "I intended that…"
How to Form つもりだ (Self-Reflective Usage)
- Verb (た形) + つもりだ – Describing what the speaker assumes they have done
- 勉強した (benkyou shita) + つもりだ → 勉強したつもりだ – "I believe I studied."
- な-Adjective (な) + つもりだ – Expressing how the speaker believes they acted (with な-adjectives)
- 親切な (shinsetsu na) + つもりだ → 親切なつもりだ – "I think I was kind."
- Noun + の + つもりだ – Conveys that the speaker sees themselves as something or someone (in a particular way)
- 先生 (sensei) + のつもりだ → 先生のつもりだ – "I consider myself a teacher."
Examples with つもりだ (Self-Reflective Usage)
Expressing Personal Assumptions About Actions
- 私はこれで十分勉強したつもりだ
わたしはこれでじゅうぶんべんきょうしたつもりだ
"I believe I studied enough with this." - 彼に親切にしたつもりだけど、誤解されたみたいだ
かれにしんせつにしたつもりだけど、ごかいされたみたいだ
"I thought I was being kind to him, but it seems he misunderstood." - 家をきれいに掃除したつもりだが、まだ汚れていると言われた
いえをきれいにそうじしたつもりだが、まだよごれているといわれた
"I thought I cleaned the house well, but they said it’s still dirty."
Expressing Personal Identity or Role
- 私はリーダーのつもりでいる
わたしはリーダーのつもりでいる
"I consider myself the leader." - 彼はプロのつもりで話しているが、まだ初心者だ
かれはプロのつもりではなしているが、まだしょしんしゃだ
"He talks as if he’s a professional, but he’s still a beginner." - 先生のつもりで学生を助けた
せんせいのつもりでがくせいをたすけた
"I helped the students, thinking of myself as their teacher."
Key Points to Remember
- Expresses Subjective Belief:
- つもりだ communicates a personal belief or assumption about what the speaker has done or their self-perception, even if it may not align with how others see it.
- Useful for Reflective Statements:
- This form is often used to express self-reflection, whether the speaker’s actions were recognized by others or not. It can subtly imply a mismatch between one’s self-perception and external feedback.
- Additional Note: つもりだ also serves to describe future intentions or plans, where it indicates a clear decision to do something. However, this note focuses on using つもりだ to express subjective feelings or assumptions about oneself.
Summary Example Sentences
- 頑張って説明したつもりだが、あまり伝わらなかった
がんばってせつめいしたつもりだが、あまりつたわらなかった
"I thought I explained well, but it didn’t really get across." - 自分では十分親切にしたつもりです
じぶんではじゅうぶんしんせつにしたつもりです
"I believe I was being kind." - プロのつもりで仕事をしている
プロのつもりでしごとをしている
"I work as if I’m a professional."
Using つもりだ in this way allows speakers to express a personal belief about their actions or identity, even when it might not be completely aligned with others’ perceptions. This provides a nuanced approach to reflecting on one's own intentions and self-image in Japanese.
