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.
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
💡 Switch to Hiragana only or Rōmaji if you're just starting out.
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.
天気予報やニュースでよく使われます。 てんきよほうやニュースでよくつかわれます。 Tenki yohō ya nyūsu de yoku tsukawaremasu.
でしょう: de sho u (often sounds like "deshō")
雨でしょう / 高いでしょう / 静かでしょう
Casual: 明日は雨だろう.
Casual: 高いだろう.
This is the polite way to seek agreement: "I think it's fine, don't you agree?"
| 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
🔍 The です in でしょう is already the polite copula. Never double it.
🔍 でしょう is already polite; だろう is casual. Never combine them.
In the listening section, if you hear でしょう with a rising intonation, the speaker is asking for your agreement politely:
「この料理、おいしいでしょう?」
Translation: "This dish is delicious, isn't it?" — The speaker expects you to agree.
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
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
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?
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.
It means "probably", "I think", or "isn't it?" — the polite form of だろう. Used for probability or seeking polite confirmation.
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.
でしょう is polite (strangers, superiors). だろう is casual (friends, family). Same meaning.
ですか is a neutral question ("Is it?"). でしょう adds the speaker's judgment or assumption ("It probably is, right?").
Now master the casual version:
だろう (probably, right? – casual)
→ Explore the full JLPT N5 Grammar Hub
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