It's definitely kind of true for sure maybe...
Expressing different degrees of certainty
In general, Japanese people don't assert themselves of something unless they are absolutely sure that it is correct. This accounts for the
incredibly frequent use of 「～と」 and the various grammatical expressions used to express specific
levels of certainty. We will go over these expressions starting from the less certain to the most certain.
Using 「かもしれない」 to express uncertainty
「かもしれない」 is used to mean "maybe" or "possibly" and is less certain than the word 「」. It attaches to the end of a complete
clause. For noun and na-adjective clauses, the declarative 「だ」 must be removed. It can also be written in kanji as 「かも知れない」 and you can
treat it the same as a negative ru-verb (there is no positive equivalent) so the masu-form would become 「かもしれません」.
In casual speech, it can be abbreviated to just 「かも」.
There is also a very masculine version 「かもしれん」, which is simply a different type of negative verb covered here.
Expressing uncertainty with 「かもしれない」
- Simply attach 「かもしれない」 or 「かも知れない」 to the clause
例） をかもしれない
例） はかもしれない
例） はかもしれない
- Noun and na-adjective clauses must not use the declarative 「だ」
例） だかもしれない → かもしれない
例） だかもしれない → かもしれない
- It can be abbreviated to just 「かも」 in casual speech
例） かもしれない → かも
Examples
（１） スミスさんはにかもしれません。- Smith-san may have gone to the cafeteria.
（２） ではにかもしれないね。 - The game may become canceled by rain, huh?
（３） はかも！- I might have already seen this movie once.
（４） がかもしれない。- That might be Yoyogi park over there.
（５） かもしれんぞ。- Might not be able to escape anymore, you know.
Using 「でしょう」 to express a fair amount of certainty (polite)
「でしょう」 is used to express a level of some certainty and is close in meaning to 「」. Just like 「～です／～ます」, it must come at the end of a
complete sentence. It does not have any other conjugations. You can also replace 「～ですか」 with 「～でしょうか」 to make the question sound slightly
more polite and less assuming by adding a slight level of uncertainty.
Examples
（１） もでしょう。- Probably rain tomorrow too.
（２） は、さんでしょうか。- Are (you) student?
（３） へんでしょうか？- Where (are you) going from here?
If you want to sound really, really polite, you can even add 「～でしょうか」 to the end of a 「～ます」 ending.
（４） でしょうか。- May I receive the favor of resting, possibly?
Using 「でしょう」 and 「だろう」 to express strong amount of certainty (casual)
The casual equivalent of 「でしょう」 is surprisingly enough 「でしょう」. However, when you are speaking in a polite manner, the 「でしょう」 is enunciated
flatly while in casual speech, it has a rising intonation and can be shortened to 「でしょ」. In addition, since people tend to be more assertive in
casual situations, the casual version has a much stronger flavor often sounding more like, "See, I told you so!"
Examples
（１） あっ！！- Ah! We're going to be late!
（２） だから、がってでしょう！- That's why I told you there was no time!
（３） にんでしょ。- You're going to eat from now aren't you?
（４） だったら？- So what if I am?
（５） 、でしょう。- You're going to help me clean, right?
（６） え？なの？- Huh? Is that so?
「だろう」 means essentially the same thing as 「でしょう」 except that it sounds more masculine and is used mostly by males.
（A） アリスはだ？- Where is Alice?
（B） だろう。- Probably sleeping already.
（A） にんだろう。- You're going home already, right?
（B） よ。- That's right.
This page has last been revised on 2004/12/29