JLPT N5 Grammar: でしょう (deshou)

Probably / I think / Isn't it? – Polite probability & confirmation

JLPT N5 文法 でしょう 解説

Master でしょう in 5 minutes. Learn the polite way to say "probably", "I think", or "isn't it?" — essential for weather forecasts, polite guesses, and JLPT N5 listening.

🚀 Quick JLPT N5 Warm-up Quiz

Q1: "It will probably be sunny tomorrow, right?" (polite) Which is correct?
A. 明日は晴れでしょう
B. 明日は晴れだろうでしょう

Answer: A (でしょう is the polite probability/confirmation form)

Quick Summary

Grammar Point
でしょう
Meaning
Probably / I think / Isn't it?
Usage
Plain form + でしょう
Noun/な-adj stem + でしょう
Example

It'll probably rain tomorrow.

📝 Quick Formula

Verb (plain) + でしょう
い-adjective + でしょう
Noun / な-adjective stem + でしょう (no だ/です)
Casual version: だろう
Need the casual form?
Review だろう →

💡 Switch to Hiragana only or Rōmaji if you're just starting out.

What is でしょう?

でしょう is the polite form of だろう. It expresses probability ("probably"), conjecture ("I think"), or seeks polite confirmation ("isn't it?"). It's very common in polite conversation, weather forecasts, and news.

  • Verb (plain) + でしょう: 行くでしょう (I'll probably go).
  • い-adjective + でしょう: 高いでしょう (It's probably expensive).
  • Noun / な-adjective stem + でしょう: 学生でしょう (probably a student), 静かでしょう (probably quiet). No だ/です before でしょう!
  • Rising intonation: でしょう? = "isn't it?" / "right?"

How to Pronounce

でしょう: de sho u (often sounds like "deshō")

Examples & Mini Dialogue


It'll probably rain tomorrow. (noun + でしょう)

Casual: 明日は雨だろう.


It's probably expensive. (い-adj + でしょう)

Casual: 高いだろう.


It's okay, isn't it? (polite confirmation, rising intonation)

This is the polite way to seek agreement: "I think it's fine, don't you agree?"

🗣️ Mini Dialogue
A:
B:
("How's tomorrow's weather?" — "It'll probably be sunny.")

When to Use in Real Japan

  • Weather forecasts: 明日あしたゆきになるでしょう。あしたはゆきになるでしょう。Ashita wa yuki ni naru deshou.
  • Polite guessing: かれないでしょう。かれはこないでしょう。Kare wa konai deshou.
  • Seeking polite agreement: いいでしょう?いいでしょう?Ii deshou?

⚡ でしょう vs だろう vs ですか: Politeness & Certainty

Form Formality Certainty Example
でしょう Polite High (probably) 雨でしょう
だろう Casual High 雨だろう
ですか Polite Neutral question 雨ですか? (Is it rain?)

💡 Exam tip: でしょう adds the speaker's judgment ("I think"). ですか is a simple neutral question.

→ Compare with the casual form: だろう

Common Mistakes

学生がくせいですでしょうがくせいですでしょうGakusei desu deshou
学生がくせいでしょうがくせいでしょうGakusei deshou
(Don't add です before でしょう — nouns attach directly!)

🔍 The です in でしょう is already the polite copula. Never double it.

たかいでしょうだろうたかいでしょうだろうTakai deshou darou
たかいでしょうたかいでしょうTakai deshou
(Don't mix polite でしょう with casual だろう — choose one)

🔍 でしょう is already polite; だろう is casual. Never combine them.

🎌 JLPT N5 Exam Trick

In the listening section, if you hear でしょう with a rising intonation, the speaker is asking for your agreement politely:

Translation: "This dish is delicious, isn't it?" — The speaker expects you to agree.

JLPT N5 Practice Questions

1. "It's probably expensive." (高い = expensive, い-adj, polite)
A. 高いでしょう
B. 高いですでしょう

Show AnswerCorrect: A (い-adj + でしょう)

2. "He's probably a teacher." (先生 = teacher, noun, polite)
A. 先生ですでしょう
B. 先生でしょう

Show AnswerCorrect: B (noun + でしょう, no です)

3. "It's okay, isn't it?" (polite confirmation)
A. 大丈夫でしょう?
B. 大丈夫だろうでしょう?

Show AnswerCorrect: A (な-adj stem + でしょう)
⚠️ でしょう is one of the most tested N5 grammar points — both for meaning and for not attaching です before it.

Eliminate this mistake now.
Start Free Mock Test →

About the Instructor

This lesson is taught by Anup Sensei, an experienced Japanese language instructor at Gogaku Language & Training Center in Pokhara. He has studied and worked in Japan and specializes in practical JLPT preparation and real-life communication skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does でしょう mean?

It means "probably", "I think", or "isn't it?" — the polite form of だろう. Used for probability or seeking polite confirmation.

Can I use でしょう with nouns?

Yes, but directly: 学生でしょう (not 学生ですでしょう). The です is already inside でしょう.

What's the difference between でしょう and だろう?

でしょう is polite (strangers, superiors). だろう is casual (friends, family). Same meaning.

How is でしょう different from ですか?

ですか is a neutral question ("Is it?"). でしょう adds the speaker's judgment or assumption ("It probably is, right?").

Continue Learning

Now master the casual version:
だろう (probably, right? – casual)

Learn だろう →

→ Explore the full JLPT N5 Grammar Hub

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