Talking about what we are going to do


> 漢字の辞書を買おうと思っています。
>
> (I am going to buy a kanji dictionary) (decision already made)
>
> _from "Genki 2"_

So, we use the volitional form + と思っています to talk not about spontaneous
decisions but those which we have already made.

Do the sentences below mean exactly the same?

> 漢字の辞書を買おうと思っています。
>
> 漢字の辞書を買うつもりです。




I feel there is a nontrivial difference.

買おうと思っている is closer to "I'm thinking of buying it". There is perhaps a 70-80%
chance of buying it, but you are still _thinking_ , and you may reconsider it
later.

買うつもりだ is close to "I'm going to buy it". It means you currently have no
doubts about your plan, and you will buy it unless something very unusual
happens.

I know my explanation doesn't align with your textbook's translation, but this
is how I feel.




I feel there is a nontrivial difference.

買おうと思っている is closer to "I'm thinking of buying it". There is perhaps a 70-80%
chance of buying it, but you are still _thinking_ , and you may reconsider it
later.

買うつもりだ is close to "I'm going to buy it". It means you currently have no
doubts about your plan, and you will buy it unless something very unusual
happens.

I know my explanation doesn't align with your textbook's translation, but this
is how I feel.

