Japanese grammar
What does ～予定だ mean? Japanese grammar N4
～予定だ means scheduled to ~, planning to ~.
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N4 |
|---|---|
| Structure | V (dictionary form) + 予定です N + の予定です |
| Romaji | ~ yotei da |
| Meaning | scheduled to ~, planning to ~ |
Forming it
| Noun | N + の予定です: 会議の予定です、来週の予定です |
|---|---|
| Past | 予定でした — a plan that existed but (usually) didn't come to pass |
| Verb | V dictionary form + 予定です: 出発する予定です |
| Negative | V ない + 予定です (rarely used) — or 予定はありません (no plan) |
How to use it
Talks about a plan that has been specifically arranged, usually with a clear date and time.
- 予定 is a noun meaning "schedule, plan." This is the most objective of the three intention patterns: it talks about something already scheduled — with a date, time, booked tickets, an announcement made. Not a personal feeling.
- Being objective, 予定 can be used for organizations, events, and other people: 「会議は3時に始まる予定です」(the meeting is scheduled to start at 3 o'clock). つもり can never be used that way.
- When used with a noun, の is required in between: 「明日は出張の予定です」. This is a point beginners often forget.
- 予定でした in the past usually implies "it was planned that way, but in the end it didn't happen": 「3時に着く予定でした」(scheduled to arrive at 3 — but in reality...).
Examples
来週の金曜日に東京へ出発する予定です。
I am scheduled to leave for Tokyo next Friday.
会議は3時に終わる予定です。
The meeting is scheduled to end at three.
今週の土曜日は仕事の予定です。
I have work scheduled this Saturday.
Keep in mind
- At work, schedule announcements almost always use 予定です rather than つもりです.
- The highest degree of certainty in the group, but it's still "planned" — not a 100% guarantee.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong明日は会議予定です。
There's a meeting scheduled tomorrow.
Correct明日は会議の予定です。
A noun connecting to 予定 must have の. Vietnamese speakers often drop の because the equivalent Vietnamese phrase, "meeting schedule," doesn't need any connecting word.
-
Wrong来年、たぶん日本語を勉強する予定です。
Maybe next year I'll study Japanese.
Correct来年、日本語を勉強しようと思います。
予定 requires a plan that has definitely been arranged. Adding たぶん (perhaps) before 予定 is self-contradictory — something "definitely scheduled" can't also be "perhaps". An intention that vague should use ～ようと思います.
Exam tips
- Recognition keyword: a sentence with a specific time marker (来週の金曜日、3時に) → leans toward 予定です.