きっと — Surely / Certainly / I'm sure
An adverb expressing strong personal confidence or conviction — the speaker is quite sure something is or will be true. Common in reassurance, predictions, and encouragement.
Structure
きっと + [sentence]
Examples
きっとうまくいくよ。心配しないで。
Kitto umaku iku yo. Shinpai shinai de.
I'm sure it'll work out. Don't worry.
きっと = strong reassurance / confidence
これだけ練習すれば、きっと合格できる。
Kore dake renshuu sureba, kitto goukaku dekiru.
If you practice this much, you'll surely pass.
きっと = confidence based on observed effort
あの映画はきっと面白いと思う。
Ano eiga wa kitto omoshiroi to omou.
I'm sure that movie is interesting.
きっと + と思う = personal strong expectation
• Confidence spectrum: 絶対に (100%, absolutely) > 必ず (definitely/without fail) > きっと (surely, personal belief) > 多分 (probably, ~70%) > もしかしたら (perhaps). • きっと rests on personal conviction; 必ず asserts objective certainty (必ず毎朝来る = comes every morning without fail). • きっと is often used to encourage.
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones きっと is tested against.
vs 必ず (kanarazu)
必ず states an objective, guaranteed certainty ('without fail'); きっと is the speaker's subjective conviction ('I'm sure').
vs 多分 (tabun)
多分 is weaker (~70% probably); きっと signals higher personal confidence.
vs 絶対 (zettai)
絶対 is emphatic 100% 'absolutely'; きっと leaves a small margin — it is belief, not proof.
More adverbs
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