〜でしょう

〜でしょう expresses probably / I think — communicating the speaker's degree of certainty, judgment, or attitude about a statement. Modal expressions in Japanese range from strong conviction to vague possibility, and choosing the right one conveys important nuance about how sure you are.

This is a foundational pattern that you will use from day one of your Japanese studies.

When to Use#

• When making a polite prediction or guess
• When seeking confirmation with rising intonation

When NOT to Use#

• When the meaning is closer to "might / maybe" — use 〜かもしれない instead
• In very formal writing where a more sophisticated expression would be expected

Example Sentences#

• 明日は晴れるでしょう。 — It will be sunny tomorrow.

Practice#

Try reading these sentences aloud, then check the translation and vocabulary:

Common Mistakes#

1. Confusing 〜でしょう with 〜かもしれない — While both are related, 〜でしょう expresses "probably / I think" whereas 〜かもしれない expresses "might / maybe." Pay attention to the specific nuance each pattern conveys.
2. Direct translation from English — The concept expressed by 〜でしょう may not map one-to-one with its English translation. Focus on understanding the Japanese usage through example sentences rather than relying on the English gloss.

Related Patterns#

• 〜かもしれない (might / maybe) — Compare