Japanese doesn’t have explicit future tense. Instead the near future is usually expressed with the present tense, while specifying the timing:
- 明日お伺いします -> I will come see you tomorrow
- 今行くよ -> I’m coming right now
- 後で食べるから冷蔵庫に入れておいて -> I will eat it later so will you put it in the fridge?
- 式は六時に始まります -> The ceremony will begin at 6PM
- 夏はもうすぐ終わる -> The summer will end soon
For public statements, 予定だ (be scheduled) is often used:
- 工事は六月末に完成の予定です -> The construction is scheduled to be, will be, completed by the end of June
つもり is often used to express one’s personal intention for the future:
- 明日お送りするつもりです -> I intend to, will, send it tomorrow
- 彼は明日来るつもりだと言ってました -> He said he intended to, would, come tomorrow
- どうするつもりなの？ -> What do you intend, what are you going, to do about it?
The aux verbs of intention う/よう+と思う is another expression for one’s personal intention for the near future:
- 明日お伺いしようと思います -> I intend to, will, come see you tomorrow
- この仕事は後でやろうと思っている -> I intend to take care of this job later
見る is used in conversations, for one’s personal intention for the immediate future.
- 彼に聞いて見ます -> I will ask him
- もうちょっと考えて見る -> I will think about it a little more
Note that 見る is NEVER used when the intended action involves the listener.
- 後で電話するから (
後で電話して見るから)-> I will call you later
来る is also used in conversations, for one’s personal intention for the immediate future, when movements are involved.
- ちょっとコンビニに行って来る -> I’m going to a convenience store real quick
- 後で薬局で薬を受け取って来るよ -> I will pick up the medication at the pharmacy later
～てしまう is often used when something is about to happen, usually with an undesirable result. Note てしまう becomes ちゃう in informal conversations.
- 急がないと電車に乗り遅れてしまう -> We will miss our train if we don’t hurry
- 乱暴に扱うと壊れちゃうよ -> It will break if you handle roughly
For probable events in the future, the aux verbs of supposition う/よう are often used. The statement will be an opinion of the speaker:
- 明日は一日中雨でしょう -> (I am forecasting that) it will rain all day tomorrow
- 夜は冷えるだろうから上着を持って行ったほうが良い -> (I think) it will cool down in the evening, so you’d better bring a jacket
Certain events in the future are expressed using the present tense.
- 電池が切れるとモーターは止まる -> The motor will stop when the battery runs out
- 全ての人は最後には死ぬ -> All people will eventually die
The contents of sub-clauses are often in the present tense, even if it is a future event:
- これを見たら彼女も喜ぶと思います -> I think she will be happy if she sees this
- これを見たら彼女も喜ぶだろうと思います (A little more speculative that the above)
“Will have something done” is expressed as “して置く“:
- 夕食は用意しておくから -> I will have dinner ready for you
- 上司に書類を用意しておくように言われた -> My boss told me to have the documents ready
The future perfect is expressed with た(だ)
- 向こうに着いたら連絡します -> I will let you know when I get there
- 読んだら感想を聞かせて下さい -> When you finish reading it, please let me know what you think
- 宝くじに当たったら家を買いたい -> I want to buy a house if I win a lottery