Posted inN4 Grammar

Understanding ~予定だ (Yotei da): Expressing Plans in Japanese

Posted inN4 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

To express a plan, a schedule, or an expectation that something will happen.

🎯 Primary Function

To state predetermined plans, schedules, or arrangements. It indicates a higher degree of certainty or a fixed arrangement compared to simple intentions.

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb Plain Form + 予定だ (よていだ) Noun + の + 予定だ (よていだ)

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Commonly used in formal settings, business, and public announcements to state schedules or plans clearly.

😊 Informal Situations

Can be used in informal conversation, but other forms like ~つもりだ or plain form + と思う might be more common for personal, less fixed plans.

✍️ Written Language

Very common in written language for stating schedules, itineraries, and formal plans.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Frequently used in spoken Japanese, especially when discussing concrete plans or schedules.

💡 Common Applications

Travel Itineraries
Stating when and where you plan to go.
Example: 来週、北海道へ行く予定です。 (Raishū, Hokkaidō e iku yotei desu.) – I plan to go to Hokkaido next week.
Work or School Schedules
Talking about scheduled events like meetings or classes.
Example: 会議は午後３時に始まる予定です。 (Kaigi wa gogo san-ji ni hajimaru yotei desu.) – The meeting is scheduled to start at 3 PM.
Events or Occurrences
Expressing when something is expected to happen based on a schedule or forecast.
Example: 電車は１０時に到着する予定です。 (Densha wa jū-ji ni tōchaku suru yotei desu.) – The train is scheduled to arrive at 10 o’clock.
📊
Frequency
Very common, especially when discussing definite future events, schedules, or established plans.
🎚️
Difficulty
Intermediate (N4). The concept is straightforward, but distinguishing it from similar forms like ~つもりだ requires practice.
Example Sentences
明日は雨が降る予定です。
It is expected to rain tomorrow.
旅行は来月に変更する予定です。
We plan to change the trip to next month.
テストは来週の月曜日の予定です。
The test is scheduled for next Monday.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Expresses fixed plans or schedules
~予定だ is best used for plans that are already decided or part of a schedule, rather than just a personal intention.
Example: 飛行機は３時に出発する予定です。(Hikōki wa san-ji ni shuppatsu suru yotei desu.) – The plane is scheduled to depart at 3 o’clock. (This is a fixed schedule.)
Can express expectation
It can also mean “is expected to” or “is supposed to” happen based on information or a schedule.
Example: 彼は明日来る予定です。(Kare wa ashita kuru yotei desu.) – He is expected to come tomorrow.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using ~予定だ for uncertain intentions
✅ Use ~つもりだ or ~たい instead for less definite personal intentions.
~予定だ implies a more concrete plan or schedule. For personal hopes or vague intentions, ~つもりだ (~intend to) or ~たい (~want to) are more appropriate.
❌ Incorrect conjugation with verbs
✅ Always use the plain form of the verb before ~予定だ.
Do not use the ~ます form or other conjugated forms directly before ~予定だ.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral to polite. Using です/ます with ~予定だ (~予定です) makes it polite. The plain form ~予定だ is less formal but not necessarily impolite depending on the context and who you are speaking to.
Social Situations: Appropriate in most situations, from discussing personal plans with friends (using plain form) to stating business schedules (using polite form).
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese, commonly understood and used nationwide.

🔍 Subtle Differences

~予定だ vs. ~つもりだ
~予定だ is for planned/scheduled events (often externally influenced or fixed). ~つもりだ is for personal intentions (what *you* intend to do).
When to use: Use ~予定だ for schedules, itineraries, or externally set plans. Use ~つもりだ for your own determined intentions.
~予定だ vs. ~だろう / ~でしょう
~予定だ expresses a planned/scheduled future event. ~だろう / ~でしょう express probability or conjecture about the future.
When to use: Use ~予定だ for established plans/schedules/expectations. Use ~だろう / ~でしょう for guesses or predictions.
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When to use: undefined

📝 Conjugation Notes

Verbs: Verb Plain Form (Present/Past, Affirmative/Negative) + 予定だ Nouns: Noun + の + 予定だ Adjectives: Not typically used directly with ~予定だ in this sense of “plan”.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

予定 (よてい – yo-tei) has a relatively flat intonation. だ (da) can become です (desu) in polite speech.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of 予定 (yotei) as “pre-arranged” or “on the calendar”.

Practice Exercises
来週、大阪へ＿＿＿＿です。
行くつもり
行く予定
行きたい
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会議は午後１時に＿＿＿＿予定です。
始まる
始まり
始まって
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