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> 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。
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2019-06-03T06:18:32.090
68638
2019-06-06T00:34:33.527
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question
grammar meaning
Talking about what we are going to do
Good question. It is a bit difficult to say that they are "exactly the same"
but almost the same.

Both express the persistent intention. The former is by 思っている and the latter
is by the word つもり, which is derived from つもる.

Some say the latter is a bit stronger.
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2019-06-03T15:14:34.710
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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.
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2019-06-03T16:25:11.197
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2019-06-03T16:25:11.197
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Also, the decision which one to use may relate to where the the intention/plan
came from.

At least if someone has recommended you should buy a kanji dictionary, and
asks you afterwards if you bought it, 買うつもり would be more natural (e.g. in
買うつもりですがまだです。), as using と思います might sound like you are not giving the person
the proper credit for having given you the recommendation.

On the other hand, if you e.g. tell your friend that you have an intention to
buy one, and want to ask his/her opinion, 買おうと思ってます might be better (e.g.
漢字の辞書を買おうと思っていますが、アマゾンで売ってないかな。), although I guess here つもり would be quite OK,
too.
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2019-06-06T00:34:33.527
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answer