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How to Say ‘I was thinking of coming on Saturday.’ in Japanese

土曜日に伺おうと思っていたんですが

doyoubi ni ukagaou to omotsu te i ta n desu ga

[doh-yoh-bee nee oo-kah-GAH-oh toh oh-MOHT teh ee tah n dess gah]

🇯🇵 In Japan: Leaving the sentence hanging on んですが signals there's a catch. The staff will usually pick up on it and explain the situation without you asking directly.

Phrase Breakdown

土曜日に

doyoubi ni

On Saturday

'土曜日' (doyoubi) means Saturday, and 'に' marks the time. Stretch the 'you'.

Example

土曜日に映画を見ます。

I'll watch a movie on Saturday.

Words in this phrase

土曜日

doyoubi

[doh-yoh-bee]

Saturday

The day Saturday.

Example

土曜日のチケットはありますか。

Do you have tickets for Saturday?

に

[nee]

on (time)

Particle marking a specific day or time.

Example

日曜日に行きます。

I'll go on Sunday.

伺おうと

ukagaou to

To visit (humble)

The humble 'intend to visit': u-ka-ga-o-u-to.

Example

お店に伺おうと思います。

I think I'll visit your shop.

Words in this phrase

伺おう

ukagaou

[oo-kah-GAH-oh]

let's visit (humble volitional)

Volitional form of humble 伺う, 'to visit'.

Example

明日伺おうと思います。

I'm thinking of visiting tomorrow.

と

[toh]

(quotation marker)

Particle that marks what was said or written, like quotation marks.

Example

彼は「はい」と言いました。

He said "yes."

思っていたんですが

omotsu te i ta n desu ga

I was thinking..., but

A soft lead-in to a question or concern. Hold the small 'っ' for a short pause.

Example

電話しようと思っていたんですが

I was thinking of calling, but...

Words in this phrase

思っ

omotsu

[oh-MOHT]

to think

Stem of 思う, to think or suppose.

Example

いい人だと思っています。

I think he's a good person.

て

[teh]

te-form ending

This ending connects actions, like 'cut and...' in instructions.

Example

てをつけると、つぎのどうさにつなげられます。

When you add -te, you can connect it to the next action.

い

[ee]

to be

Part of the ongoing polite form, showing a continuing state.

Example

その方針を守っている会社です。

It is a company that is maintaining that policy.

た

[tah]

past tense ending

This ending completes the polite past tense form.

Example

空席がございました。

There were vacant seats.

ん

[n]

(explanatory n)

Casual form of の; adds a tone of seeking or giving an explanation, often before です.

Example

どうしたんですか。

What happened?

です

desu

[dess]

is; polite copula

A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.

Example

少し伺いたいです。

I would like to ask a little.

が

[gah]

(softening ending)

Ending a sentence with ga softens a request politely.

Example

お願いしたいんですが。

I'd like to ask a favor...

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