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JLPT N4Modal Expressions

でしょう— Probably / Right? (conjecture)

Expresses conjecture, probability, or seeks confirmation. "Probably / I suppose / don't you think?" Softer and less certain than はずだ.

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Pro lessonUNIT 101 · MODAL EXPRESSIONS

Structure · 形

[Plain form] + でしょう (falling: conjecture) / (rising: confirmation-seeking)

Examples · 例文

  • 明日は雨が降るでしょう。

    Ashita wa ame ga furu deshō.

    It will probably rain tomorrow.

    降る + でしょう = probably will rain

  • それは難しいでしょう。

    Sore wa muzukashii deshō.

    That's probably difficult.

    い-adjective + でしょう = conjecture "probably difficult"

  • 彼はもう家に着いたでしょう。

    Kare wa mō ie ni tsuita deshō.

    He has probably arrived home by now.

    着いた (plain past) + でしょう = probably has arrived

Usage notes · 注意

  • Key Concept: でしょう (falling intonation) = conjecture "probably." でしょう (rising intonation) = seeking confirmation "right? / isn't it?" Casual form: だろう.
  • Detail: でしょうか = "I wonder..." (softer than か alone).
  • Compare: でしょう (probably, softer) vs はずだ (should be, logical).

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones でしょう is tested against.

vsはずだ

はずだ is a logical conclusion backed by evidence/reasoning ("it should be, given X"); でしょう is a softer guess or a bid for agreement.

vsかもしれない

かもしれない = "might / maybe" (lower certainty); でしょう implies higher likelihood ("probably").

vsだろう

だろう is the plain/casual form of でしょう with the same meaning; でしょう is polite.

More modal expressions

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