ようと思う / おうと思う【ようとおもう / おうとおもう】

The structure ようと思う / おうと思う expresses the speaker's intention or plan to do something. It combines the volitional form of a verb with とおもう思う ("think"), producing a meaning like "I think I will…" or "I intend to…".

Formation

The volitional form depends on the verb type:

• V1 (ichidan/る-verbs): Remove る and add よう → たべる食べる → 食べよう → 食べようと思う
• V5 (godan/う-verbs): Change the final う-row sound to its おう-row equivalent → いく行く → 行こう → 行こうと思う, よむ読む → 読もう → 読もうと思う
• Irregular:する → しよう → しようと思う, くる来る → 来よう（こよう） → 来ようと思う

～ようと思う vs. ～ようと思っている

There is an important difference between these two forms:

～ようと思う often suggests a decision being made at the moment of speaking – the speaker has just decided or is deciding now.

～ようと思っている indicates an intention that the speaker has already been holding for some time – a pre-existing plan or ongoing resolve.

When talking about someone else's intentions, 〜～ようとおもっている思っている is used, because you cannot directly state another person's momentary decision.

Usage notes

• This pattern is primarily used for first-person statements about one's own intentions. For third-person intentions, use ～ようと思っている or add expressions like らしい or そうだ.
• It sounds natural and conversational – softer than a firm declaration but more committed than a vague wish.
• In polite speech, とおもいます思います is used instead of とおもう思う.
  もっとうんどう運動しようとおもいます思います。

  I intend to exercise more.