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Vague Expressions ⑦: How to Use 「〜そうです」 (Appearance and Hearsay)
17/04/2026
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Vague Expressions ⑥: How to Use 「〜でしょう」
Kotoba Drill Editor
Today's theme
「〜でしょう」 (でしょう /de̞ɕoː/) is used when you want to make a guess. You are not stating something as a hard fact, but you do have some basis for saying it.
You often hear it in weather forecasts, for example 「明日は晴れでしょう」 (Tomorrow will probably be sunny). It is also common in daily conversation when you want to confirm something or give an opinion more gently.
Today, we learn when to use it and what to contrast it with through examples.
「〜でしょう」 is a guess with some basis
「〜でしょう」 is a form used when you
make a soft guess based on some reason, situation, or experience.
For example:
- because the sky is cloudy, you say 「雨が降るでしょう」 (It will probably rain)
- after looking at him, you say 「彼は疲れているでしょう」 (He is probably tired)
- from past experience, you expect 「このテストは難しいでしょう」 (This test will probably be difficult)
It is used in scenes like these.
| Wording | How it sounds |
|---|---|
| 「〜です。」 | A direct statement of fact. |
| 「〜でしょう。」 | A guess with some basis, but not a full assertion. |
It is useful when you feel, "I do not want to state this too strongly, but I have a fair idea."
Difference from 「〜かもしれません」
Both forms express inference, but the strength of the basis is different.
- 「〜でしょう」: a guess with some basis and fairly strong confidence.
- 「〜かもしれません」: a possibility only, with less basis.
Compare them in examples.
| Situation | 「〜でしょう」 | 「〜かもしれません」 |
|---|---|---|
| Looking at a cloudy sky | 「雨が降るでしょう。」 (I am almost sure.) | 「雨が降るかもしれません。」 (It is a possibility.) |
| Watching his behaviour | 「彼は知っているでしょう。」 (I feel fairly sure.) | 「彼は知っているかもしれません。」 (I am less certain.) |
| Talking about how hard an exam may be | 「難しいでしょう。」 (Based on experience.) | 「難しいかもしれません。」 (I am not really sure, but it may be.) |
Remember it this way: 「でしょう」 shows stronger confidence, while 「かもしれません」 leaves the range of possibility wider.
Difference from 「〜らしいです」
「〜らしいです」 and 「〜でしょう」 look similar, but the source of the information is different.
- 「〜らしいです」: used from indirect information, such as something you heard from someone or read in an article.
- 「〜でしょう」: used from your own inference, based on the situation, experience, or knowledge.
Examples:
- you hear from a friend that 「田中さんが来ない」 (Tanaka is not coming) -> 「田中さんは来ないらしいです。」
- you know Tanaka is unwell and think it through yourself -> 「田中さんは来ないでしょう。」
It becomes easier to choose between them if you ask yourself, "Where did I get this information, and how did I reach this idea?"
Sentence form and how to build it
「〜でしょう」 can be combined with nouns, adjectives, and verbs.
| Sentence type | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | Noun + 「でしょう」 | 「彼は学生でしょう。」 (He is probably a student.) |
| i-adjective | i-adjective + 「でしょう」 | 「このテストは難しいでしょう。」 (This test will probably be difficult.) |
| na-adjective | na-adjective stem + 「でしょう」 | 「彼女は元気でしょう。」 (She is probably fine.) |
| Verb | Plain form + 「でしょう」 | 「明日、来るでしょう。」 (They will probably come tomorrow.) |
For a 「な形容詞」, remove the 「な」 before using the pattern. Example: 「元気な」 -> 「元気でしょう」
Scene ①: when making a guess
Use it when you want to express a guess based on what you see or on your experience.
- It has become dark outside the window.
-> 「今夜は雨が降るでしょう。」 (It will probably rain tonight.) - He practises late every night.
-> 「きっと試合で活躍するでしょう。」 (He will probably do well in the match.) - This shop is always full.
-> 「今日も混んでいるでしょう。」 (It will probably be crowded today too.)
In this way, it is used when you judge from the situation you can see or the information you already know.
Scene ②: when asking for confirmation (「〜でしょう？」)
If you say it with rising intonation (↑), it can mean a confirmation like 「〜ですよね？」.
- 「これ、あなたの荷物でしょう？」 (This is your bag, right?)
- 「もう読んだでしょう？」 (You have already read it, right?)
- 「難しいでしょう？」 (It is difficult, isn't it?)
Here, 「〜でしょう？」 can sound a little stronger than 「〜ですよね？」. It has a nuance of asking for agreement or pressing for confirmation.
| Wording | Nuance |
|---|---|
| 「〜ですね？」 | A gentle confirmation |
| 「〜でしょう？」 | A slightly stronger confirmation or reminder |
In casual conversation with friends, 「〜でしょ？」 (casual form) is also very common.
Caution: 「〜でしょう」 is not a hard statement
Because 「〜でしょう」 expresses inference, it is not suitable in scenes where you need to state something clearly as a fact.
- 「会議は3時からです。」 (The meeting starts at 3:00.)
- ✗ 「会議は3時からでしょう。」 (This sounds as if you have not confirmed it.)
Also, if you use 「〜でしょう？」 too often, the other person may feel that you are pressing the point. In daily conversation, 「〜ですね？」 often sounds softer.
Where 「〜でしょう」 fits and does not fit
| Fits | Does not fit |
|---|---|
| making a guess from the situation | stating a confirmed fact clearly |
| talking about the outlook for weather or a situation | giving an official decision or conclusion |
| giving an opinion gently | scenes where steps or instructions must be stated clearly |
| asking for confirmation or agreement with rising intonation (↑) | reports or contract scenes where a firm statement is necessary |
Rephrasing options (kana（かな（ひらがなよみ））＋ IPA)
Choose the form according to how strong your confidence is.
| Rephrase type | Goal | Example | Reading (kana（かな（ひらがなよみ））) | Pronunciation (IPA) | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guess with some basis | Express a guess when you feel fairly sure | 「明日は晴れるでしょう。」 (It will probably be sunny tomorrow.) | （あした は はれる で しょう） | [aɕita wa haɾeɾɯ de̞ɕoː] | A guess based on the situation |
| Broad possibility | Mention a possibility when the basis is weak | 「明日は晴れるかもしれません。」 (It might be sunny tomorrow.) | （あした は はれる かも しれません） | [aɕita wa haɾeɾɯ kamo̞ ɕiɾe̞masẽɴ] | Shows possibility only |
| Hearsay-based inference | Softly pass on something you heard | 「明日は晴れるらしいです。」 (I hear it will be sunny tomorrow.) | （あした は はれる らしい です） | [aɕita wa haɾeɾɯ ɾaɕi de̞sɯ] | Shows that the information is indirect |
| Observation-based inference | Softly share what you observed | 「彼は疲れているようです。」 (He seems tired.) | （かれ は つかれて いる よう です） | [kaɾe wa tsɯkaɾe̞te̞ iɾɯ joː de̞sɯ] | Shows information from direct observation |
| Direct fact statement | State the conclusion clearly | 「明日は晴れです。」 (Tomorrow is sunny.) | （あした は はれ です） | [aɕita wa haɾe de̞sɯ] | Used for a confirmed fact |
Note
IPA is approximate. Vowel length and the sound of 「ん」 vary by speaker. Check together with kana.
Practical switching examples (daily life and work｜kana（かな（ひらがなよみ））＋ IPA)
If you choose the wording to match the scene, your meaning comes across more clearly.
| Scene | Intention | Better wording | Reading (kana（かな（ひらがなよみ））) | Pronunciation (IPA) | Point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily life (talking about weather) | Make a guess from the situation | 「空が曇っているので、雨が降るでしょう。」 (The sky is cloudy, so it will probably rain.) | （そら が くもって いる ので あめ が ふる で しょう） | [so̞ɾa ɡa kɯmo̞tte̞ iɾɯ no̞de̞ ame̞ ɡa ɸɯɾɯ de̞ɕoː] | A guess based on your own judgement |
| Daily life (talking about a friend) | Pass on something you heard | 「田中さんは明日来ないらしいです。」 (I hear Tanaka will not come tomorrow.) | （たなかさん は あした こない らしい です） | [tanakaɕaɴ wa aɕita ko̞nai ɾaɕi de̞sɯ] | Use 「らしいです」 for indirect information |
| School (talking about a test) | Express a confident guess | 「このテストは難しいでしょう。」 (This test will probably be difficult.) | （この テスト は むずかしい で しょう） | [ko̞no̞ te̞sɯto̞ wa mɯdzɯkaɕi de̞ɕoː] | A guess based on experience |
| School (confirmation) | Ask for agreement | 「もう読んだでしょう？」 (You have already read it, right?) | （もう よんだ で しょう） | [moː jo̞nda de̞ɕoː] | Rising intonation gives confirmation or a reminder |
| Work (status report) | Report a confirmed fact | 「資料の送信は完了しています。」 (The document has been sent.) | （しりょう の そうしん は かんりょう して います） | [ɕiɾʲoː no̞ so̞ːɕiɴ wa kaɴɾʲoː ɕite̞ imasɯ] | Use a direct statement for something confirmed |
| Work (outlook) | Give an outlook gently | 「このプロジェクトは来月には終わるでしょう。」 (This project will probably finish by next month.) | （この プロジェクト は らいげつ には おわる で しょう） | [ko̞no̞ pɯɾo̞dʑe̞kɯto̞ wa ɾaige̞tsɯ niwa o̞waɾɯ de̞ɕoː] | A forecast with some basis |
Small tips to make your message clearer
1) Add one reason
If you include one reason before 「〜でしょう」, your guess sounds more reliable.
- 「毎年この時期は混むので、今年も混むでしょう。」 (It gets crowded at this time every year, so it will probably be crowded this year too.)
- 「彼はいつも準備が早いので、今日も準備できているでしょう。」 (He always gets ready early, so he is probably ready today too.)
2) Choose between 「でしょう」 and 「かもしれません」 by the strength of confidence
If you have some basis and your confidence is high -> 「〜でしょう」
If the basis is weak and you only want to mention a possibility -> 「〜かもしれません」
- 「明日は試験があるので、彼は緊張しているでしょう。」 (He will probably be nervous because there is an exam tomorrow.)
- 「明日は試験があるかもしれません。」 (There might be an exam tomorrow.)
3) Pay attention to sentence endings when confirming
「〜でしょう？」 can sound a little strong. If you want to confirm more gently, use 「〜ですね？」 or 「〜ですよね？」.
- 「もう終わりましたよね？」 (You have finished already, right?)
- 「もう終わったでしょう？」 (You have finished already, right?)
Common mistakes and fixes
| Common sentence | What is the issue? | Fix (example) |
|---|---|---|
| 「会議は3時からでしょう。」 | It sounds uncertain even though it is a fixed decision | 「会議は3時からです。」 |
| 「昨日、友だちから聞いたんですが、明日は休みでしょう。」 | It sounds like your own guess even though it is hearsay | 「明日は休みらしいです。」 |
| Using 「〜でしょう」 for everything | It becomes hard to tell how certain you are | Use 「でしょう」 when confidence is high, and 「かもしれません」 when it is lower |
Summary
「〜でしょう」 is a useful form for:
- giving a soft guess based on the situation or on experience
- showing stronger confidence than 「かもしれません」
- asking for confirmation or agreement when said with rising intonation
On the other hand, in scenes like:
- reporting a fact you confirmed yourself
- giving an official decision or conclusion
- stating steps or instructions clearly
you need to switch to direct forms such as 「〜です」 or 「〜します」.
By scene, switch among
「〜でしょう」, 「〜らしいです」, 「〜のようです」, 「〜かもしれません」, and 「〜です」
and build Japanese that expresses your meaning accurately.
