Even in conditions when Japanese individuals 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 absolutely inside a bundle, when talking Japanese, Japanese audio system commonly encase their assertions in language that suggests they are not positive about it. To swimsuit this social custom, Japanese affords a wide range of grammatical phrases for various levels of certainty.
For instance, contemplate a state of affairs 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 evening. You didn’t do this, however you imagine one other coworker, Tanaka-san, might have. That is what you may 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 related expressions, and understanding them is essential for talking the language in a extra Japanese-like method.
To help you in utilizing Japanese in a approach that presumably sounds extra Japanese, this text discusses these phrases so as of diploma of certainty. Are you able to study them? Perhaps? Maybe? Properly, it appears you’re prepared, I suppose. So, let’s get the ball rolling!
Conditions: This text assumes you already know hiragana and katakana. If you have 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 strange talking or writing. Some expressions won’t be applicable in formal writing, similar to tutorial writing, as formal writing tends to require a inflexible and assertive type on the whole.
A Huge Image Take 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 accessible info. The knowledge of the judgment, nonetheless, may be completely different relying on how a lot info 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 concept of the knowledge stage and the way subjectivity or objectivity every time period sounds:
“Sure” and “unsure” must 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 primarily based by yourself assumptions and instinct, whereas extra “goal” phrases rely a bit extra on exterior info or previous experiences together with your personal ideas.
Don’t fret if you happen to aren’t accustomed to these actual expressions but, although — we will go over them one after the other. Additionally, if you happen to really feel like this desk is lacking another phrases you already know, similar to 多分 (maybe) or きっと (certainly), relaxation assured that I will be masking them on this article as properly, however in a separate part on the backside!
Expressions For Conveying a Low Degree of Certainty
To begin, let’s introduce expressions for conveying the bottom stage of certainty.
〜かな for “I Surprise…”
To specific your feeling of uncertainty, you should utilize 〜かな. 〜かな is the equal of the English phrase “I ponder…” It is usually used with a notion or a hypothetical state of affairs that has come to thoughts, and implies that it is best to take it with a pinch of salt.
For instance, if you happen to sneeze and also you surprise when you’ve got a chilly, you may stick 〜かな onto 風邪 (chilly) and say:
- 風邪かな。
- I ponder if I’ve a chilly.
Right here, 〜かな expresses that when you assume you might need a chilly, you’re nonetheless not sure and are questioning about it.
You may as well connect かな to an extended sentence. For example, if you happen to surprise chances are you’ll develop a fever, you might say:
- 熱が出るかな。
- I ponder if I am getting a fever.
In a approach, 〜かな is type of like asking your self a query, and thus it is thought-about an off-the-cuff expression.
Once more, on this instance, 〜かな signifies that regardless that you are afraid of getting a fever, you’re nonetheless not sure and questioning about it.
On account of its nature, 〜かな lacks the well mannered type. To specific this type of hypothesis when chatting with somebody in a well mannered method, you may as a substitute 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 ponder 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 ponder 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 likely one of the grammar factors used to precise hypothesis. If you happen to aren’t accustomed to them, try the linked pages!
〜かもしれない for “Could” 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 utterly positive. In different phrases, it refers to your guess when there is no such thing as a concrete proof to help it.
Let’s use the identical state of affairs 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 positive. 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.
Observe that 〜かもしれない is commonly shortened to simply 〜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 is common to drop しれない and say:
- 熱が出るかも。
- I’ll 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 might say:
- 熱が出るかもです。
- I’ll develop a fever.
Nevertheless, you’d 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’ve gotten a stiff, sq. relationship.
- 熱が出るかもしれません。
- I’ll develop a fever.
Alright, you have most likely had sufficient of 〜かもしれない expressions, so let’s transfer onto the subsequent 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’ve gotten a sense that one thing is perhaps the case.”
Since 〜気がする signifies that you’ve a hunch about one thing, it sounds barely extra sure than 〜かな (I ponder) or 〜かもしれない (possibly/would possibly). Nevertheless, the knowledge stage of this expression continues to be low, as a result of it solely conveys a sense or guess primarily based on instinct, fairly than recognized details.
Let’s reuse the sneezing instance to see the way it works. After a giant achoo, if you happen to intuitively assume “Oh, I’ll 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 when you get the sensation that you’ve a chilly, there’s no strong proof to help this.
What if you happen to’ve been experiencing chills and wish 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’ll develop a fever.
As soon as extra, 〜気がします demonstrates that when 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 (excluding adverbs, which we’ll study later), let’s transfer on to the expressions for conveying a medium stage of certainty!
Expressions For Conveying a Medium Degree of Certainty
On this part, we’ll talk about expressions that convey a medium stage of certainty. You would possibly use these whenever you assume you’ve gotten some proof to help your argument, however it stays a matter of conjecture, and you do not wish 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’ve gotten a chilly, you may 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 wish to report that to your boss, you may 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 some signs of a chilly or fever, however you do not essentially know when you’ve got an precise chilly or fever.
〜っぽい may also observe the state of affairs wherein you assume it is doubtless true primarily based in your remark, 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 doubtless I’ve a chilly, however it’s not a 100% positive 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 seems to be like a banana, you may say:
- バナナみたい。
- This is sort of a banana.
Relying on the state of affairs, the usage of 〜みたい right here means that the yellow tomato has a taste or look that’s much 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 implies that you assume the tomato someway resembles or is much like a banana, whereas バナナっぽい describes the tomato as having traits which are type 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 related, and have the identical translation when used on this approach. 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 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. Nevertheless, because of the 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 In all probability…”
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 imagine might be true, whereas additionally suggesting that it’s supported by some type of proof.
These phrases are usually used whereas making an remark and drawing your personal conclusions. Though it’s potential to make use of them to speak about your self, speaking about any individual or one thing else is much extra typical.
One other factor to bear in mind is that だろう, or its abbreviation だろ, has an unrefined and rugged tone as-is. This rough-hewn side works properly whenever you’re making an affirmative assertion about your guess in writing or in a proper speech. In strange talking, nonetheless, it sounds powerful and is commonly thought-about 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 won’t at all times be the popular selections in strange conversations. As a substitute, many individuals select 〜と思う (I believe…) as a substitute to convey their assertion on the whole conditions. Talking of which, you may simply scroll right down to see how 〜と思う is used!
〜と思う for “I Suppose/Consider…”
Whenever you draw a conclusion primarily based on some proof, and truly imagine it is prone to be true, you should utilize the expression 〜と思う (I believe/imagine…), which is the mixture 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 believe that I’ve a chilly.
Right here, 〜と思う expresses that you’ve some motive to again up your declare, and also you naturally got here to assume that is most likely the case.
Whenever you say 〜と思う, you’re merely expressing a thought, concept, 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 considering that bubbles up naturally “in your coronary heart,” whereas 考える is a extra methodical type of lively considering, 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.
Because of this, the knowledge of 〜と思う adjustments relying on the sentence you connect it to. For instance, you may lower the extent of certainty by including 〜かな (I ponder) 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 believe that I’ll have a chilly.
On this case, 〜と思う softens the already imprecise 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 (undoubtedly), it turns into a robust conviction:
- 絶対風邪引いたと思う。
- I believe that I undoubtedly 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 robust assertion.
This occurs in English too, however as was talked about at first, Japanese individuals usually reserve making assertions about one thing except 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 comfy.
There was loads 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 you have to communicate to in a courteous method.
〜そう for “It Seems to be/Appears Like…”
You may as well use 〜そう whenever you imagine 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 may mix it with the verb 出る and say:
- 熱が出そう。
- It seems to be/looks like I am going to develop a fever.
〜そう will also be used with adjectives, too. For instance, in case your buddy observed you were not feeling properly, they may add 〜そう to an い-adjective しんどい and say:
- しんどそうだね。
- It seems to be/looks like you are not feeling properly.
As talked about earlier, 〜そう mainly interprets to “it seems to be/looks like” in English. To place it one other approach, you should utilize this to easily describe what you assume goes to occur, primarily based in your remark of the current state of affairs.
Since 〜そう is mainly your report on what one thing “seems to be/looks like” primarily based in your remark, its certainty stage is barely larger than different expressions we have discovered to this point. Nevertheless, it nonetheless implies that you just aren’t sure, so when speaking about what’s seemingly about to occur, it usually goes properly 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.
Observe 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 clarify an occasion that occurred previously.
Expressions For Conveying a Excessive Degree of Certainty
Now you have 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 primarily based on goal, logical inference, the phrase 〜はず is available in play.
So when you’ve got sneezed, get some chills, and foresee {that a} fever is about to develop, you may say:
- 熱が出るはず。
- I ought to have a fever quickly.
Right here, 〜はず signifies that you just imagine that it is extremely doubtless {that a} fever is coming quickly, and that perception is predicated on believable info.
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 must be some remedy, if I bear in mind appropriately.
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 ideal diploma of certainty, however not 100%. It conveys that you just assume or imagine 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, however it implies that your personal subjective judgment is concerned to succeed in the conclusion.
It is simpler to understand the nuance of 〜に 違いない whereas evaluating it with 〜はず, so let’s deliver 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 may be very related, as each suggest that you’ve got reached the belief that you’re extremely prone to have a fever quickly, given that you just at the moment 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 that means of 違いない is “no distinction” or “not a mistake.” It signifies that one thing is precisely what you assume with none distinction or inaccuracy.
Thus, the literal that means of the phrase 〜に違いない is “I affirm that XYZ is correct and proper in each side,” which after all conveys a really excessive diploma of certainty.
As you may 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 can not at all times be swapped. For example, resulting from its robust confidence, 〜に違いない can’t be used within the state of affairs the place you bear in mind one thing and it is extremely doubtless, however you are not 100% positive, 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 must be some remedy, if I bear in mind appropriately.
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 type investigator — it is as if you happen to’re drawing conclusions concerning the crime scene and asserting that some type of remedy should have been current at a particular location previously.
The bottom of your declare may be both details, 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. Nevertheless, few individuals wish 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, similar to 絶対 (undoubtedly):
- 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 shifting on, nonetheless, now we have one final expression for top certainty to debate: the plain type.
Plain Type 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 grow to be satisfied that you’ve a chilly, you would possibly merely use the plain type and say:
- あ、風邪引いた(わ/な)。
- Oh, I’ve/obtained a chilly.
Then, if you happen to really feel a chill approaching and are sure a fever will begin, you may 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 imagine 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’ll nonetheless take sentence-final particles which are directed at your self, similar 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 basically used for a self-directed realization or conviction. Nevertheless, chances are you’ll use the well mannered type in case you are speaking to the viewers and talking in a well mannered method on the whole.
For example, if you happen to’re live-streaming your life and also you assume you’ve gotten a fever the second you have sneezed, you might say:
- あ、風邪引きました(ね)。
- Oh, I’ve/obtained a chilly.
Then, if you happen to really feel a chill and anticipate a fever approaching, you may say:
- うん、熱も出ます(ね)。
- Yep, I am gonna have a fever.
After which, you truly get actually sick and have grow to be to assume you’ve gotten the flu, you might say:
- インフルエンザです(ね)。
- This have to be the flu.
As you may see within the examples, it is customary to make use of the particle ね on this state of affairs to solicit viewers settlement, as in “do you agree with my realization?”
Okay, now that we have gone by means of each expression for certainty, all that is left is to have a look at adverbs! Do not be alarmed; since you have 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 varied 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 a substitute, I am going to record the essential adverbs for various ranges of uncertainty (sure, there are literally greater than our record!😅), clarify the essential definition, and essentially the most frequent collocation.
なんだか or なんか for “Considerably” or “In some way”
なんだか, or its extra colloquial informal model なんか, is an adverb for “considerably” or someway.” 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。
- In some way I’ve a sense that I’ll develop a fever.
By including なん(だ)か to the sentence with 〜気がする, it will probably 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 commonly 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 categorical an analogous nuance, however もしかしたら is the commonest.
多分 for “Perhaps,” “Maybe,” or “In all probability”
多分 is one other phrase for “possibly” or “maybe,” however its certainty stage is larger 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 believe I most likely have a chilly.
Nevertheless it will also be used with different expressions similar to 〜かな, 〜かも(しれない), or 〜はず.
恐らく for “In all probability”
恐らく additionally often interprets to “most likely”, however its certainty stage is larger than 多分, and it is usually used to foretell a foul consequence sooner or later. Additionally, the tone is extra formal and literary, so it is best suited to formal conversations or in writing.
Due to this nuance, 恐らく is mostly used with a really affirmative declare, accompanied by an inferring expression, similar 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 believe I most likely have a chilly.
Within the above examples, the primary one seems like a written sentence or a blunt, self-directed thought, whereas the latter seems like a proper and well mannered speech.
きっと for “In all probability,” “Certainly,” or “Definitely”
きっと is one other adverb that would translate to “most likely,” however its certainty stage is far larger 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, similar to 〜だろう/でしょう or 〜と思う, however it will probably additionally go properly 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 positive I am going to develop a fever.
Observe 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 positive [I’ll / you’ll / they’ll] be higher quickly.
Right here, if you happen to’re speaking about your self, it expresses dedication — you are decided to be higher quickly. When speaking about another person, then again, it will probably categorical a robust want — you actually hope they wish 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 categorical a really excessive diploma of certainty.
Therefore, they can be utilized with an inferring expression, similar to similar to 〜だろう/でしょう or 〜と思う, but additionally go properly 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 positive I am going to definitely develop a fever.
They usually additionally go properly 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” primarily based on the target undeniable fact that there are not any errors, adjustments, and many others., wheras 絶対に merely means “completely” and signifies being uncontested by something.
間違いなく for “Unmistakably” or “Positively”
One other adverb with a really excessive stage of certainty is 間違いなく, which signifies your unambiguous conviction and may translate “unmistakably” or “undoubtedly.”
It goes properly with an inferring expression, similar to similar 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 undoubtedly develop a fever.
- 間違いなく熱が出る(わ)。
- I am positive I am going to undoubtedly develop a fever.
Observe that 間違いなく suggests that you’ve given your judgment that one thing is undeniably true primarily based on some info you’ve gotten. Because of this, it carries a extra formal tone when in comparison with 確実に and 絶対に, although it will probably nonetheless be utilized in on a regular basis speech.
Fairly Presumably the Conclusion
Whew! I do know that is quite a lot of info to cowl, however don’t fret if you have not memorized all of it but. This web page could be a reference so that you can revisit time and again till you have obtained all of it down.
Understand 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 imprecise, together with layering a number of the above expressions, utilizing double negatives, or extra. Nonetheless, hopefully it is 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 attempting to precise. Attempt to observe what types of statements Japanese individuals are making in actual life and the context wherein they’re making these statements, and hopefully this type of nuance will grow to be second nature to you.
Footnotes:
