How deshō and darō attach
Both attach to the plain form of verbs and i-adjectives, including past and negative forms. With nouns and na-adjectives, they replace da or desu and attach directly.
Because deshō already includes politeness, the verb in front stays plain: iku deshō, not ikimasu deshō.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 明日は雨でしょう。 | Ashita wa ame deshō. | It will probably rain tomorrow. |
| 田中さんはもう帰ったでしょう。 | Tanaka-san wa mō kaetta deshō. | Mr Tanaka has probably gone home already. |
| あの店は高いでしょう。 | Ano mise wa takai deshō. | That shop is probably expensive. |
| 週末は駅が混むだろう。 | Shūmatsu wa eki ga komu darō. | The station will probably be crowded at the weekend. |
| Word type | Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | Plain form + deshō | Will probably do |
| Past verb | Plain past + deshō | Probably did |
| I-adjective | Adjective + deshō | Is probably hot or expensive |
| Na-adjective | Adjective without na + deshō | Is probably quiet |
| Noun | Noun + deshō | Is probably rain, is probably a student |
Tabun and kitto set the confidence
Deshō alone is a fairly confident guess. Adverbs at the start of the sentence tell the listener early how sure you are. Tabun is probably, a moderate guess. Kitto is surely, much more confident. Osoraku is formal and common in news and writing.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| たぶん間に合うでしょう。 | Tabun maniau deshō. | We will probably make it. |
| きっと喜ぶでしょう。 | Kitto yorokobu deshō. | They will surely be pleased. |
| おそらく明日には届くでしょう。 | Osoraku ashita ni wa todoku deshō. | It will most likely arrive by tomorrow. |
Rising deshō? asks for agreement
Said with a rising voice, deshō is not a prediction but a tag: right? or isn't it? The speaker expects the listener to agree, often because they both know something already.
In casual speech it shortens to desho? with the same rise. Men speaking casually may use darō? in the same way.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| このケーキ、おいしいでしょう？ | Kono kēki, oishii deshō? | This cake is good, isn't it? |
| ほら、言ったでしょ？ | Hora, itta desho? | See, I told you so, didn't I? |
| 疲れたでしょう。 | Tsukareta deshō. | You must be tired. |
| だから言っただろう？ | Dakara itta darō? | That is why I told you, right? |
Tsukareta deshō, said gently when someone arrives after a long trip, is caring rather than a guess. It acknowledges the effort before they mention it.
Deshō ka for softer questions
Replacing desu ka with deshō ka makes a question less direct, because it asks what is probably the case instead of demanding a fact. It is standard in customer service, business and any polite request for information.
It is also a common way to ask permission softly with yoroshii deshō ka.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 駅はどちらでしょうか。 | Eki wa dochira deshō ka. | Which way is the station, please? |
| 今、お時間よろしいでしょうか。 | Ima, ojikan yoroshii deshō ka. | Do you have a moment now? |
| この日程でいかがでしょうか。 | Kono nittei de ikaga deshō ka. | How would this schedule be for you? |
| 明日、雨が降るでしょうか。 | Ashita, ame ga furu deshō ka. | Do you think it will rain tomorrow? |
Darō in thought, writing and casual speech
Darō is the plain form, and you will meet it more in reading and listening than you will use it. It is standard in essays, novels and news commentary. In inner thoughts it often combines with ka or na to mean I wonder.
In casual conversation, darō is associated with male speech and can sound rough if used carelessly. Many speakers of any gender prefer kana for I wonder and desho for right? when talking to friends.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 彼は来るだろうか。 | Kare wa kuru darō ka. | I wonder if he will come. |
| 明日は晴れるだろうな。 | Ashita wa hareru darō na. | It will probably be sunny tomorrow, I think. |
| 彼、来るかな。 | Kare, kuru kana. | I wonder if he is coming. |
Deshō, to omoimasu and kamoshiremasen
All three can translate as probably, I think or maybe, but they frame the statement differently. Deshō presents a prediction as the likely truth. To omoimasu presents it as your own opinion, which is softer and more personal. Kamoshiremasen presents it as a real possibility, often less than even odds.
For your own intentions and opinions, to omoimasu is usually the natural choice. For forecasts, general predictions and third parties, deshō works well. For the full certainty ladder, including hazu and ni chigainai, see the guide to kamo shirenai and ni chigainai.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 明日は晴れるでしょう。 | Ashita wa hareru deshō. | It will probably be sunny tomorrow. |
| 明日は晴れると思います。 | Ashita wa hareru to omoimasu. | I think it will be sunny tomorrow. |
| 明日は晴れるかもしれません。 | Ashita wa hareru kamoshiremasen. | It might be sunny tomorrow. |
| 来週、京都に行こうと思っています。 | Raishū, Kyōto ni ikō to omotte imasu. | I am thinking of going to Kyoto next week. |
When deshō sounds presumptuous
Because a rising deshō assumes agreement, pointing it at the listener's own thoughts or knowledge can sound like you are telling them what they think. Wakaru deshō?, you understand, right?, can come across as condescending, and deshō? to a manager can feel over-familiar.
The fix is to ask rather than assume. Ne invites agreement more gently, and a real question leaves room for a different answer.
- To friends: deshō? and desho? are warm and natural.
- To a manager or customer: prefer ne or dō omoimasu ka.
- About the listener's understanding: ask wakarinikui tokoro wa arimasen ka, never wakaru deshō.
- About your own plans: use to omoimasu rather than deshō.