Even in conditions when Japanese persons are fairly optimistic that one thing is true, they usually maintain again on expressing claims. Just like how one would possibly use a layer of wrapping paper to cover what is admittedly inside a package deal, when talking Japanese, Japanese audio system frequently encase their assertions in language that suggests they are not certain about it. To go well with this social custom, Japanese gives a wide range of grammatical phrases for various levels of certainty.
For instance, take into account a situation the place you arrive at work within the morning, and a coworker asks you whether or not you left a doc on her desk final night time. You didn’t do this, however you consider one other coworker, Tanaka-san, might have. That is what you possibly can say:
- 田中さん[かな / かも / な気がする / だと思う]。
- It is perhaps Tanaka-san.
These 4 phrases are offered so as of diploma of certainty: from least sure to most sure. Though 4 would possibly appear to be sufficient, that is merely the tip of the iceberg. Japanese has much more comparable expressions, and understanding them is essential for talking the language in a extra Japanese-like method.
To help you in utilizing Japanese in a means that probably sounds extra Japanese, this text discusses these phrases so as of diploma of certainty. Are you able to be taught them? Perhaps? Maybe? Effectively, it appears you’re prepared, I suppose. So, let’s get the ball rolling!
Stipulations: This text assumes you already know hiragana and katakana. If it’s essential to brush up, take a look at our Final Hiragana Information and Final Katakana Information.
Notes: This text concentrates extra on the subtleties of every time period, significantly in abnormal talking or writing. Some expressions may not be acceptable in formal writing, comparable to educational writing, as formal writing tends to require a inflexible and assertive fashion usually.
A Large Image Have a look at Diploma of Certainty Phrases
As talked about within the introduction, there are many methods to convey your assumptions in Japanese. All of those expressions are for “judgments” made in gentle of the obtainable data. The understanding of the judgment, nonetheless, could be completely different relying on how a lot data the speaker is aware of, and the way a lot they depend on it to make judgments, in addition to whether or not or not they reached their assumption subjectively or objectively.
To assist your understanding, this is a chart to indicate you a tough thought of the knowledge stage and the way subjectivity or objectivity every time period sounds:
“Sure” and “unsure” ought to be fairly self-explanatory, however what do I imply by “subjective” or “goal”? Principally, the extra “subjective” a time period is, the extra closely it is based mostly by yourself assumptions and instinct, whereas extra “goal” phrases rely a bit extra on exterior data or previous experiences at the side of your personal ideas.
Don’t be concerned if you happen to aren’t accustomed to these actual expressions but, although — we’ll go over them one after the other. Additionally, if you happen to really feel like this desk is lacking another phrases you already know, comparable to 多分 (maybe) or きっと (certainly), relaxation assured that I will be overlaying them on this article as nicely, however in a separate part on the backside!
Expressions For Conveying a Low Stage of Certainty
To start out, let’s introduce expressions for conveying the bottom stage of certainty.
〜かな for “I Marvel…”
To specific your feeling of uncertainty, you should utilize 〜かな. 〜かな is the equal of the English phrase “I’m wondering…” It is typically used with a notion or a hypothetical situation that has come to thoughts, and implies that you must take it with a pinch of salt.
For instance, if you happen to sneeze and also you surprise in case you have a chilly, you possibly can stick 〜かな onto 風邪 (chilly) and say:
- 風邪かな。
- I’m wondering if I’ve a chilly.
Right here, 〜かな expresses that whilst you assume you might need a chilly, you’re nonetheless uncertain and are questioning about it.
You too can connect かな to an extended sentence. For example, if you happen to surprise chances are you’ll develop a fever, you may say:
- 熱が出るかな。
- I’m wondering if I am getting a fever.
In a means, 〜かな is kind of like asking your self a query, and thus it is thought of an off-the-cuff expression.
Once more, on this instance, 〜かな signifies that though you are afraid of getting a fever, you’re nonetheless uncertain and questioning about it.
Resulting from its nature, 〜かな lacks the well mannered type. To specific this kind of hypothesis when chatting with somebody in a well mannered method, you possibly can as an alternative use 〜ですかね or 〜ますかね, or the extra formal 〜でしょうか(ね).
- 風邪[ですかね / でしょうか(ね)]。
- I’m wondering if I’ve a chilly.
(Actually: Do you assume I’ve a chilly?)
- 熱[出ますかね / 出るでしょうか(ね)]。
- I’m wondering if I am creating a fever.
(Actually: Do you assume I’ll develop a fever?)
Right here, です and ます are the marker for the politeness, か is the query particle, and ね is the confirmation-seeking particle. And, でしょう is without doubt one of the grammar factors used to precise hypothesis. If you happen to aren’t accustomed to them, take a look at the linked pages!
〜かもしれない for “Might” or “May”
〜かもしれない is the Japanese equal of “might” or “would possibly.” It communicates the implication that one thing could also be true, however you are not fully certain. In different phrases, it refers to your guess when there isn’t any concrete proof to help it.
Let’s use the identical situation of you sneezing. As a substitute of “you surprise,” you assume you might need a chilly. On this case, you should utilize 〜かもしれない and say:
- 風邪かもしれない。
- I might need a chilly.
Right here, 〜かもしれない reveals that even if you happen to suspect that you just might need a chilly, you are not so certain. If you happen to’re very sure that your sneeze is being attributable to a chilly, you should not use 〜かもしれない.
Notice that 〜かもしれない is usually shortened to only 〜かも in informal dialog, or in self-directed speech. So if you happen to now have some chills and are telling your member of the family that you just would possibly develop a fever, it’s normal to drop しれない and say:
- 熱が出るかも。
- I could develop a fever.
Though it’s grammatically incorrect, some individuals use 〜かも with です to lend a way of informal politeness. So if you happen to’re telling considered one of your superiors at work that you just’re pleasant with that you just would possibly get a fever, you may say:
- 熱が出るかもです。
- I could develop a fever.
Nonetheless, you’ll use the right well mannered type, 〜かもしれません, if you happen to had been talking to a different senior worker with whom you could have a stiff, sq. relationship.
- 熱が出るかもしれません。
- I could develop a fever.
Alright, you’ve got most likely had sufficient of 〜かもしれない expressions, so let’s transfer onto the following expression!
〜気がする for “I Have A Feeling…”
〜気がする actually interprets to “have a sense,” and it is used to precise that you just aren’t sure however “you could have a sense that one thing is perhaps the case.”
Since 〜気がする signifies that you’ve got a hunch about one thing, it sounds barely extra sure than 〜かな (I’m wondering) or 〜かもしれない (possibly/would possibly). Nonetheless, the knowledge stage of this expression continues to be low, as a result of it solely conveys a sense or guess based mostly on instinct, slightly than recognized info.
Let’s reuse the sneezing instance to see the way it works. After a giant achoo, if you happen to intuitively assume “Oh, I could have a chilly,” then you should utilize 〜気がする and say:
- 風邪引いた気がする。
- I’ve a sense that I’ve a chilly.
Right here, 〜気がする expresses that whilst you get the sensation that you’ve got a chilly, there’s no stable proof to help this.
What if you happen to’ve been experiencing chills and need to inform your boss that you just sense a fever is coming subsequent? On this circumstance, you should utilize the well mannered 〜気がします and say:
- 熱が出そうな気がします。
- I’ve a sense that I could develop a fever.
As soon as extra, 〜気がします demonstrates that whilst you do have a sneaking suspicion that you could be get a fever, there’s no concrete proof to again this up.
Alright, now that we have coated all of the low certainty expressions (apart from adverbs, which we’ll be taught later), let’s transfer on to the expressions for conveying a medium stage of certainty!
Expressions For Conveying a Medium Stage of Certainty
On this part, we’ll focus on expressions that convey a medium stage of certainty. You would possibly use these whenever you assume you could have some proof to help your argument, nevertheless it stays a matter of conjecture, and you do not need to assert ideas too strongly.
〜っぽい for “Like…,” “-ish,” or “It Appears…”
〜っぽい is a slang-ish suffix that expresses similarity, as in “(really feel) like…,” or “-ish” in English. For instance, if you happen to really feel like you could have a chilly, you possibly can say:
- 風邪っぽい。
- I really feel like that I’ve a chilly.
And if you happen to’re feverish, and also you need to report that to your boss, you possibly can add the well mannered です and say:
- 熱っぽいです。
- I really feel feverish.
In these examples, 〜っぽい casually signifies that you’ve got some signs of a chilly or fever, however you do not essentially know in case you have an precise chilly or fever.
〜っぽい can even observe the scenario by which you assume it is possible true based mostly in your commentary, like:
- 風邪引いたっぽいです。
- It looks like I’ve a chilly.
On this case, 〜っぽい provides a way of ambiguity, like “Given the signs, it is possible I’ve a chilly, nevertheless it’s not a 100% certain factor.”
〜みたい for “Like…” or “It Appears…”
Just like 〜っぽい, 〜みたい is a suffix that expresses similarity or resemblance to one thing else. For example, if you happen to discover a yellow tomato that tastes like or appears like a banana, you possibly can say:
- バナナみたい。
- This is sort of a banana.
Relying on the scenario, the usage of 〜みたい right here means that the yellow tomato has a taste or look that’s just like a banana.
In case you are curious, 〜みたい and 〜っぽい are comparable however distinct phrases. バナナみたい signifies that you assume the tomato by some means resembles or is just like a banana, whereas バナナっぽい describes the tomato as having traits which can be form of like a banana.
Now, let’s swap 〜っぽい with 〜みたい within the earlier instance 風邪引いたっぽい。(It looks like I’ve a chilly.), as in:
- 風邪引いたみたいです。
- It looks like I’ve a chilly.
〜みたい and 〜っぽい are certainly very comparable, and have the identical translation when used on this means. If I had been to be choosy, there are very small variations between the 2, although.
That’s, 〜みたい demonstrates your evaluation that your situation is similar to, if not the identical as having a chilly, whereas 〜っぽい reveals that, given your present circumstance, you get a sense that you’ve got a chilly.
Since 〜みたい signifies your evaluation, 風邪引いたみたいです is barely extra sure than 風邪引いたっぽいです. Nonetheless, as a result of ambivalence added by 〜みたい, 風邪引いたみたいです nonetheless presents the message that you just’re conscious that you just most likely have a chilly, however are coming to phrases with it.
〜だろう/〜でしょう for “I Guess Most likely…”
In case your speculation about one thing is predicated on opinions and views with some justifications, you should utilize the expression 〜だろう, or its well mannered type 〜でしょう, as in:
- 風邪だろうね。
- I suppose that is most likely a chilly.
- 熱も出るでしょうね。
- I suppose that they’re going to most likely develop a fever, too.
Right here, 〜だろう/でしょう suggests that you’re making a private guess that you just consider might be true, whereas additionally suggesting that it’s supported by some type of proof.
These phrases are usually used whereas making an commentary and drawing your personal conclusions. Though it’s potential to make use of them to speak about your self, speaking about someone or one thing else is much extra typical.
One other factor to remember is that だろう, or its abbreviation だろ, has an unrefined and rugged tone as-is. This rough-hewn facet works nicely whenever you’re making an affirmative assertion about your guess in writing or in a proper speech. In abnormal talking, nonetheless, it sounds powerful and is usually thought of masculine.
To melt the sound, the ultimate particle ね is often used with it, simply as within the examples above 〜だろうね. Alternatively, 〜でしょう is a really well mannered expression and is favored in formal conditions. Including ね to it, as in 〜でしょうね, could make it sound female, although it is used throughout the gender spectrum in formal settings.
For these nuances, each 〜だろう and 〜でしょう may not at all times be the popular decisions in abnormal conversations. As a substitute, many individuals select 〜と思う (I feel…) as an alternative to convey their assertion usually conditions. Talking of which, you possibly can simply scroll all the way down to see how 〜と思う is used!
〜と思う for “I Suppose/Consider…”
While you draw a conclusion based mostly on some proof, and really consider it is prone to be true, you should utilize the expression 〜と思う (I feel/consider…), which is the mix of the citation marker と and the verb 思う (to assume).
For instance, if you happen to not solely sneezed however have chills and fatigue, chances are you’ll say:
- 風邪引いたと思う。
- I feel that I’ve a chilly.
Right here, 〜と思う expresses that you’ve got some cause to again up your declare, and also you naturally got here to assume that is most likely the case.
While you say 〜と思う, you’re merely expressing a thought, thought, or notion that simply occurred to you.
If you happen to’re questioning why the phrase “naturally” was inserted there, good eye! Japanese has two verbs for “assume,” 思う and 考える. Between the 2, 思う refers to extra spontaneous pondering that bubbles up naturally “in your coronary heart,” whereas 考える is a extra methodical form of lively pondering, which we would say occurs “in your head.”
Now, let’s check out the above instance 風邪引いたと思う once more. Right here, the declare 風邪引いた (I caught/have a chilly) is a extremely satisfied sentence in and of itself (we’ll speak about this later too!), and what 〜と思う is doing is definitely softening the assertion by stating that it is the notion that naturally got here to you.
For that reason, the knowledge of 〜と思う adjustments relying on the sentence you connect it to. For instance, you possibly can lower the extent of certainty by including 〜かな (I’m wondering) or 〜かも(しれない) (might/would possibly) to the declare, like:
- 風邪引いた[かな / かも(しれない)]と思う。
- I feel that I could have a chilly.
On this case, 〜と思う softens the already obscure かな/かもしれない statements and makes them even much less sure. Alternatively, if you happen to add an adverb like 絶対 (positively), it turns into a powerful conviction:
- 絶対風邪引いたと思う。
- I feel that I positively have a chilly.
However once more, simply saying 絶対 風邪引いた with out 〜と思う is stronger, and what 〜と思う is basically softening the sturdy assertion.
This occurs in English too, however as was talked about to start with, Japanese individuals usually reserve making assertions about one thing until they’re absolutely sure that it’s correct. Because of this, you hear 〜と思う, or 〜気がする (I’ve a sense…), used with many Japanese remarks to assist the speaker really feel comfortable.
There was so much on this part to soak up, huh? One last level: the well mannered type of 思う is 思います. So, use 思います when telling your ideas to somebody with whom it’s essential to converse to in a courteous method.
〜そう for “It Appears to be like/Appears Like…”
You too can use 〜そう whenever you consider that one thing is about to occur, somebody goes to do one thing, or some situation is perhaps the case. For instance, if you happen to really feel such as you would possibly develop a fever, you possibly can mix it with the verb 出る and say:
- 熱が出そう。
- It appears/looks like I am going to develop a fever.
〜そう can be used with adjectives, too. For instance, in case your buddy observed you were not feeling nicely, they may add 〜そう to an い-adjective しんどい and say:
- しんどそうだね。
- It appears/looks like you are not feeling nicely.
As talked about earlier, 〜そう mainly interprets to “it appears/looks like” in English. To place it one other means, you should utilize this to easily describe what you assume goes to occur, based mostly in your commentary of the current scenario.
Since 〜そう is mainly your report on what one thing “appears/looks like” based mostly in your commentary, its certainty stage is barely greater than different expressions we have discovered to date. Nonetheless, it nonetheless implies that you just aren’t sure, so when speaking about what’s seemingly about to occur, it typically goes nicely with 〜気がする, as in:
- 熱が出そうな気がする。
- I’ve a sense that I’ll seemingly develop a fever.
Notice that since 〜そう is an expression that is depending on what you’re observing on the time you are talking, you can’t use it to elucidate an occasion that occurred previously.
Expressions For Conveying a Excessive Stage of Certainty
Now you’ve got discovered all of the expressions for low and medium certainty, let’s transfer onto the high-certainty expressions.
〜はず for “Supposed To Be” or “Ought to Be”
If you happen to assume that one thing is “supposed” to be or “ought to” be the case, foreseeably based mostly on goal, logical inference, the phrase 〜はず is available in play.
So in case you have sneezed, get some chills, and foresee {that a} fever is about to develop, you possibly can say:
- 熱が出るはず。
- I ought to have a fever quickly.
Right here, 〜はず signifies that you just consider that it is extremely possible {that a} fever is coming quickly, and that perception is predicated on believable data.
And in case your assistant at work has some reminiscence of getting acetaminophen within the workplace cupboard, they may politely say:
- 薬があったはずです。
- There ought to be some remedy, if I keep in mind accurately.
On this instance, 〜はず means that they’ve a reminiscence of getting some medication, if their reminiscence is correct.
In different phrases, 〜はず signifies an excellent diploma of certainty, however not 100%. It conveys that you just assume or consider that one thing is the case, however that you just’re conscious that it isn’t essentially so.
〜に違いない for “Should”
Like 〜はず, 〜に 違いない additionally denotes a excessive diploma of certainty, nevertheless it implies that your personal subjective judgment is concerned to achieve the conclusion.
It is simpler to understand the nuance of 〜に 違いない whereas evaluating it with 〜はず, so let’s carry again the sooner instance of you foreseeing an upcoming fever for comparability:
- 熱が出る[はず / に違いない]。
- I ought to have a fever quickly.
The implication right here could be very comparable, as each indicate that you’ve got reached the belief that you’re extremely prone to have a fever quickly, given that you just presently have sneezes and chills.
〜に違いない sounds extra assured and robust than
〜はず, as a result of it conveys your private conviction on the conclusion.
The literal which means of 違いない is “no distinction” or “not a mistake.” It signifies that one thing is strictly what you assume with none distinction or inaccuracy.
Thus, the literal which means of the phrase 〜に違いない is “I affirm that XYZ is correct and proper in each facet,” which in fact conveys a really excessive diploma of certainty.
As you possibly can see, what 〜に違いない implies is sort of inflexible. Therefore, it is extra of a literary expression than colloquial.
Though 〜はず and 〜に違いない had been interchangeable within the above instance, due to the slight distinction in nuance, they cannot at all times be swapped. For example, on account of its sturdy confidence, 〜に違いない can’t be used within the scenario the place you keep in mind one thing and it is extremely possible, however you are not 100% certain, like:
- 薬があった[はず(です) / ❌に違いない(です) / ❌に違いありません]。
- There ought to be some remedy, if I keep in mind accurately.
If you happen to use 〜に違いない, or its well mannered kinds 〜に違いないです or 〜に違いありません, within the above sentence, it could sound as if you happen to’re a detective or a some kind investigator — it is as if you happen to’re drawing conclusions concerning the crime scene and asserting that some kind of remedy should have been current at a selected location previously.
The bottom of your declare could be both info, data, and even simply your intuition, however with all the data at your disposal, 〜に違いない expresses that you just can’t be sure that that would be the case.
For this connotation, detective characters in fiction might continuously make use of 〜に違いない in speech. Nonetheless, few individuals need to sound like detectives in actual life, so to say the identical factor, individuals usually use 〜と思う, or its well mannered 〜と思うんです or 〜と思います, with an adverb, comparable to 絶対 (positively):
- 絶対薬があった[と思う / と思うんです / と思います]。
- I certainly assume that there was some remedy.
We’ll quickly undergo all of the adverbs for various ranges of certainty. Earlier than transferring on, nonetheless, we have now one final expression for prime certainty to debate: the plain type.
Plain Kind for “Realization” or “Conviction”
Nearly all of textbooks do not point out this, however when Japanese individuals have simply realized one thing or are lastly satisfied that one thing is the case, they usually simply state it utilizing the phrase in its most elementary “plain type.”
For instance, if you happen to sneeze and turn out to be satisfied that you’ve got a chilly, you would possibly merely use the plain type and say:
- あ、風邪引いた(わ/な)。
- Oh, I’ve/received a chilly.
Then, if you happen to really feel a chill approaching and are sure a fever will begin, you possibly can say:
- うん、熱も出る(わ/な)。
- Yep, I am gonna have a fever.
Now suppose you genuinely begin feeling sick and have a excessive fever, and consider it is a flu. You would possibly say:
- インフルエンザだ(わ/な)。
- This have to be the flu.
These examples all have a plain type ending, both within the current or the previous tense. They will nonetheless take sentence-final particles which can be directed at your self, comparable to わ (a judgment/sentiment marker) or な (a discovery marker). However even with out them, ending a sentence in a plain type sufficiently communicates your judgment or your discovery that one thing is true and that you’re assured in it.
You do not usually see the well mannered type on this use as a result of it is primarily used for a self-directed realization or conviction. Nonetheless, chances are you’ll use the well mannered type in case you are speaking to the viewers and talking in a well mannered method usually.
For example, if you happen to’re live-streaming your life and also you assume you could have a fever the second you’ve got sneezed, you may say:
- あ、風邪引きました(ね)。
- Oh, I’ve/received a chilly.
Then, if you happen to really feel a chill and anticipate a fever approaching, you possibly can say:
- うん、熱も出ます(ね)。
- Yep, I am gonna have a fever.
After which, you really get actually sick and have turn out to be to assume you could have the flu, you may say:
- インフルエンザです(ね)。
- This have to be the flu.
As you possibly can see within the examples, it is customary to make use of the particle ね on this scenario to solicit viewers settlement, as in “do you agree with my realization?”
Okay, now that we have gone by each expression for certainty, all that is left is to take a look at adverbs! Do not be alarmed; since you’ve got already discovered a lot, I am going to solely briefly undergo every adverb. So, let’s carry on and get to the end line of this text collectively!
Adverbs For Totally different Ranges of Uncertainty
Along with the expressions discovered above, there are adverbs that denote numerous levels of uncertainty. These adverbs continuously go along with different expressions you beforehand discovered, significantly with 思う, however the frequency of collocations will depend on the phrase.
As promised, we can’t go into nice element about every adverb on this half; as an alternative, I am going to listing the fundamental adverbs for various ranges of uncertainty (sure, there are literally greater than our listing!😅), clarify the fundamental definition, and essentially the most frequent collocation.
なんだか or なんか for “Considerably” or “Someway”
なんだか, or its extra colloquial informal model なんか, is an adverb for “considerably” or by some means.” This expression continuously goes with 〜気がする, as in:
- なん(だ)か熱が出そうな気がする。
- Someway I’ve a sense that I could develop a fever.
By including なん(だ)か to the sentence with 〜気がする, it could actually muddy up your already-murky intuitive guess and make it sound extra ambiguous.
もしかしたら for “Perhaps” or “Maybe”
もしかしたら is an adverb for “possibly” or “maybe,” and it is used when presuming one thing with a level of doubt. This expression is usually used with 〜かも(しれない), as in:
- もしかしたら風邪引いたかもしれない。
- Perhaps I might need a chilly.
Different adverbs like もしかすると, ひょっとしたら, or ひょっとすると specific the same nuance, however もしかしたら is the commonest.
多分 for “Perhaps,” “Maybe,” or “Most likely”
多分 is one other phrase for “possibly” or “maybe,” however its certainty stage is greater than もしかしたら and thus it mostly interprets as “most likely.”
Therefore, it is usually used with 〜だろう/でしょう or 〜と思う, as in:
- 多分風邪だろう。
- I assume it is most likely a chilly.
- 多分風邪引いたと思う。
- I feel I most likely have a chilly.
However it can be used with different expressions comparable to 〜かな, 〜かも(しれない), or 〜はず.
恐らく for “Most likely”
恐らく additionally often interprets to “most likely”, however its certainty stage is greater than 多分, and it is typically used to foretell a nasty final result sooner or later. Additionally, the tone is extra formal and literary, so it is best fitted to formal conversations or in writing.
Due to this nuance, 恐らく is usually used with a really affirmative declare, accompanied by an inferring expression, comparable to 〜だろう/でしょう or 〜と思う.
- 恐らく風邪だろう。
- I assume it is most likely a chilly.
- 恐らく風邪を引いたんだと思います。
- I feel I most likely have a chilly.
Within the above examples, the primary one appears like a written sentence or a blunt, self-directed thought, whereas the latter appears like a proper and well mannered speech.
きっと for “Most likely,” “Certainly,” or “Definitely”
きっと is one other adverb that might translate to “most likely,” however its certainty stage is far greater than 多分 or 恐らく and thus it mostly interprets to “certainly” or “definitely.”
Therefore, it may be used with an inferring expression, comparable to 〜だろう/でしょう or 〜と思う, however it could actually additionally go nicely with the expressions like 〜はず or 〜に 違いない.
- きっと熱が出る[だろう / と思う]。
- I assume I am going to certainly develop a fever.
- きっと熱が出る[はず / に違いない]。
- I am certain I am going to develop a fever.
Notice that きっと additionally has different implications relying on the context. For instance, the next sentence can have two readings relying on the context.
- きっと元気になるよ！
- I am certain [I’ll / you’ll / they’ll] be higher quickly.
Right here, if you happen to’re speaking about your self, it expresses willpower — you are decided to be higher quickly. When speaking about another person, alternatively, it could actually specific a powerful want — you actually hope they need to be higher quickly.
確実に or 絶対に for “Certainly,” “Definitely,” or “Completely”
確実に and 絶対に are the phrases for “certainly,” “definitely,” or “completely,” they usually specific a really excessive diploma of certainty.
Therefore, they can be utilized with an inferring expression, comparable to comparable to 〜だろう/でしょう or 〜と思う, but additionally go nicely with expressions like 〜はず, 〜に 違いない.
- [確実に / 絶対に]熱が出る[だろう / と思う]。
- I assume I am going to definitely develop a fever.
- [確実に / 絶対に]熱が出る[はず / に違いない]。
- I am certain I am going to definitely develop a fever.
And so they additionally go nicely with the plain type when expressing “realization” or “conviction.”
- これ[確実に / 絶対に]インフルエンザだ。
- I am sure that is the flu.
Between the 2, 確実に facilities on “certainty” based mostly on the target indisputable fact that there are not any errors, adjustments, and so on., wheras 絶対に merely means “completely” and signifies being uncontested by something.
間違いなく for “Unmistakably” or “Undoubtedly”
One other adverb with a really excessive stage of certainty is 間違いなく, which signifies your unambiguous conviction and might translate “unmistakably” or “positively.”
It goes nicely with an inferring expression, comparable to comparable to 〜だろう/でしょう or 〜と思う or the plain type of a phrase that expresses “realization” or “conviction.”
- 間違いなく熱が出る[だろう / と思う]。
- I assume I am going to positively develop a fever.
- 間違いなく熱が出る(わ)。
- I am certain I am going to positively develop a fever.
Notice that 間違いなく suggests that you’ve got given your judgment that one thing is undeniably true based mostly on some data you could have. Because of this, it carries a extra formal tone when in comparison with 確実に and 絶対に, although it could actually nonetheless be utilized in on a regular basis speech.
Fairly Presumably the Conclusion
Whew! I do know that is a variety of data to cowl, however don’t be concerned if you have not memorized all of it but. This web page generally is a reference so that you can revisit many times till you’ve got received all of it down.
Take into account that the extent of certainty described on this article is simply an approximation, as the knowledge conveyed can change relying on the context of the sentence, the one who makes use of the expression, and extra.
Lastly, like I discussed, notice that this text is simply the tip of the iceberg; Japanese has tons of various methods for making statements much less sure or extra obscure, together with layering among the above expressions, utilizing double negatives, or extra. Nonetheless, hopefully this can be a good place to begin for including extra nuance to your personal Japanese, or serving to you perceive the extent of certainty that somebody is making an attempt to precise. Attempt to observe what kinds of statements Japanese persons are making in actual life and the context by which they’re making these statements, and hopefully this kind of nuance will turn out to be second nature to you.
Footnotes:
