JLPT N4・N5 Grammar – Difference between “でしょう” and “でしょう？”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “でしょう” and “でしょう？”
2. ～でしょう
3. ～でしょう？
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similer Articles
8. Comment

Q: How are “でしょう” and “でしょう？” different?

A: “でしょう” is used for conjecture and for emphasizing feelings, while “でしょう？” is used when seeking agreement or confirmation.

～でしょう (JLPT N4)

[Meaning]
① Conjecture: Predicting that something will or has happened, without being able to state it with certainty.
② Emphasis of feelings: Expressing something that left a strong impression on the speaker, with added emotion.

[Rule]
[V] Verb plain form + でしょう
[A] い adjective plain form + でしょう
[Na] な adjective plain form + でしょう　*“-だ” cannot be used
[N] Noun plain form + でしょう　*“-だ” cannot be used

[Examples]
天気てんき予報よほう：明日あしたの大阪おおさかは晴はれ時々ときどき雨あめでしょう。(① Supposition / Guess)
Weather forecast: Tomorrow in Osaka it will be sunny with occasional rain, I suppose.

この海うみはなんて美うつくしい青あおなんでしょう。(② Emphasis of feeling)
How beautifully blue this sea is!

“だろう” and “でしょう” have almost the same meaning, but “でしょう” is the more polite expression.

① In the case of conjecture, it can be used not only for the future but also for predictions about past events.
However, it cannot be used for the speaker’s own actions or plans.

[Examples]
マリアさんはいつも忙いそがしいから、パーティーに来こないでしょうね。
Maria is always busy, so she probably won’t come to the party.

お疲つかれさま。暑あつい中なかで営業えいぎょうの仕事しごとは大変たいへんだったでしょう。
You must be tired. Working outside in the heat must have been tough, I suppose.

× わたしは学校がっこうを休やすむでしょう。
〇 わたしは学校がっこうを休やすむと思おもいます／休やすむつもりです。
× I will be absent from school, I suppose.
〇 I think I will be absent from school / I plan to be absent from school.

② When used for emphasis of feelings, it is often combined with expressions such as “なんて,” “なんと,” “どんなに,” or “いかに” to convey emotions more strongly.

[Examples]
（月つきを見みながら）なんと美うつくしい月つきでしょう。
(Looking at the moon) How beautiful the moon is!

留学りゅうがくできたら、どんなに素晴すばらしい経験けいけんになるでしょう。
If I could study abroad, what a wonderful experience it would be.

平和へいわの尊とうとさを、いかに次つぎの世代せだいへ伝つたえていけるでしょうか。
How can we pass on the preciousness of peace to the next generation?

～でしょう？ (JLPT N5)

[Meaning]
① Seeking agreement: Used when the speaker expects the listener to agree with their opinion.
② Confirmation: Used when confirming a fact with the listener. Depending on the situation, it may also carry a nuance of consideration or sympathy toward the listener.

[Rule]
[V] Verb plain form + でしょう
[A] い adjective plain form + でしょう
[Na] な adjective plain form + でしょう　*“-だ” cannot be used
[N] Noun plain form + でしょう　*“-だ” cannot be used
*Add a “?” at the end of the sentence, or use rising intonation when speaking.

[Example ①: Seeking agreement]
A：そのケーキ、おいしいでしょう？
B：うん、おいしいね。
A: This cake is delicious, isn’t it?
B: Yeah, it’s delicious.

A：このフィギュア、いいでしょう？
B：これ、すごくレアなんだね！すごいね！
A: This figure is nice, isn’t it?
B: Wow, it’s really rare! Amazing!

[Example ②: Confirmation]
子供こども：あれ？冷蔵れいぞう庫このケーキがない。
母親ははおや：一番いちばん上うえにあるでしょう？
Child: Huh? The cake in the fridge is gone.
Mother: It’s on the very top shelf, isn’t it?

（何なにかを探さがしている後輩こうはいに対たいして）
先輩せんぱい：鈴木すずき君くんが探さがしている資料しりょうはこれでしょう？
(To a junior who is searching for something)
Senior: This is the document Suzuki is looking for, isn’t it?

[Example ③: Confirmation with sympathy or consideration]
A：（後輩こうはいの大変たいへんそうな様子ようすを見みて）今回こんかいのプロジェクト、大変たいへんでしょう？
B：そうなんです。こんなに大変たいへんだとは思おもいませんでした。
A: (Seeing the junior struggling) This project has been tough, hasn’t it?
B: Yes, it has. I didn’t expect it to be this difficult.

子供こども：ただいま。
母はは：外そとは暑あつかったでしょう。かき氷ごおりでも食たべる？
Child: I’m home.
Mother: It was hot outside, wasn’t it? How about some shaved ice?

Let’s Compare

In this case, which one is more appropriate?

[Example]
A：この日本にほん語ごの本ほん、とても難むずかしいよ。
B：① でしょう。わたしも読よんだけど、読よむのやめた。
B：② でしょう？ わたしも読よんだけど、読よむのやめた。

The correct answer is ②.
In response to A’s evaluation “difficult,” B uses “でしょう？” to seek agreement and establish shared understanding. When the content is already shared between the speaker and listener, B can omit the predicate “difficult.” (In other words, omission is possible only when shared knowledge is assumed.)

What changes when you use “でしょう。”
Function: It takes on the role of conjecture or a more assertive statement (sounding like a monologue or an explanatory remark), without seeking agreement from the listener.

Implication: Depending on the situation, it can come across as a reiteration of a previously stated claim—“See, I told you so”—and may sound somewhat overconfident or condescending.

As a response: It feels more natural if you add “そう” (e.g., “そうでしょう.” / “そうでしょうね.”). Using “でしょう.” alone can sound curt or blunt, so caution is needed.

Summary

[～でしょう]

① Conjecture

• Used when predicting something that cannot be stated with certainty.
• It has the same meaning as “だろう,” but “でしょう” is the more polite expression.
• It can be used not only for the future but also for conjectures about events that likely occurred in the past.
• However, note that it cannot be used for one’s own actions or plans.

② Emphasis of feelings

• Used when the speaker expresses something that left a strong impression or was deeply felt.
• To heighten the emotional effect, it is often used together with words like “なんて,” “なんと,” “どんなに,” or “いかに.”

[～でしょう？]

• Used when asking the listener for agreement or confirming a fact.
• Depending on the situation, it may also carry a nuance of showing consideration for the listener’s feelings or sympathy for their circumstances.
• In written language, a “?” is placed at the end of the sentence, while in spoken language it is expressed with rising intonation.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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Similer Articles

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