つもりで

The expression つもりで is formed from つもり (intention/belief) plus the particle で, and it has several distinct usages depending on context.

With the intention of doing something

When attached to a verb in dictionary form, つもりで expresses doing one action with the intention of doing another. The main clause describes what you actually do while holding that intention.

Instead of doing something / As if one had done something

When attached to the past tense of a verb (た-form), つもりで often means as if one had done something or instead of doing something. This is used when you substitute one action for another or pretend you spent money or effort on something.

This pattern is especially common with spending-related contexts – imagining you did something and redirecting the resources elsewhere.

Believing/thinking that something is the case

つもりで can also express the idea that someone believes or assumes something to be true, often when reality may differ. This usage carries a nuance of self-perception that may not match how others see the situation.

Pretending to be / Acting as if

With nouns, つもりで can mean acting as if one were something.

Key nuances

• つもりで always connects to a following clause describing the actual action or situation.
• The dictionary-form usage emphasizes genuine intention, while the た-form usage often implies pretending or substituting.
• Be careful not to confuse this with つもりだ, which simply states an intention or belief as a conclusion (e.g., いく行くつもりだ – "I intend to go").