打算【dǎsuàn】

打算 goes before a verb phrase and says what someone intends to do. The plan is a decision, and the action hasn't happened yet.

A time word goes before the verb – before or after 打算 – never at the end of the sentence as in English.

• × 我打算去中国明年 → 我打算明年去中国

打算 or 想

想 is a wish; 打算 is a plan. 我想去中国 may stay a daydream. 我打算去中国 says you've made up your mind.

准备 is close to 打算 but adds that preparations have started.

Negation

不打算 says there is no plan to do it. 没打算 looks back: the idea wasn't part of the plan.

打算 as a noun

打算 also means "a plan", usually in 有什么打算.