GrammarJLPT N5
→ it seems
Conjecture, Probability, or Seeking Confirmation
JLPT N5Sentence-ending expressionNeutral
でしょう is a polite sentence-ending expression with several distinct functions depending on context and intonation. When used with falling intonation, it expresses the speaker's conjecture or estimation about something, often translated as "it seems," "probably," or "I think." This is commonly heard in weather forecasts and polite predictions. When used with rising intonation, it functions as a tag question seeking confirmation or agreement from the listener, similar to "right?" or "don't you think?" in English. でしょう is the polite form of だろう, which carries the same meanings but in a casual register. Unlike かもしれない, which expresses mere possibility ("maybe"), でしょう conveys a higher degree of likelihood or confidence. It can follow verbs, adjectives, and nouns in their plain forms, making it very versatile.
Functions
#1 Expressing conjecture or probability
Structure
Plain form + でしょう (↓ falling intonation)
明日は雨が降るでしょう。
Here でしょう is used with falling intonation to express a prediction or conjecture about the weather. The speaker is fairly confident that it will rain but is not stating it as absolute fact. This usage is extremely common in weather forecasts and news broadcasts, where the speaker presents a likely outcome in a polite manner. The verb 降る remains in its plain dictionary form before でしょう.It will probably rain tomorrow.
Structures
- Verb (plain form)
- Verb (plain form) + でしょう
- い-Adjective
- い-Adjective + でしょう
- な-Adjective
- な-Adjective + でしょう
- Noun
- Noun + でしょう
Common mistakes
A very common mistake is placing だ before でしょう when it follows a noun or な-adjective — for example, saying 学生だでしょう instead of the correct 学生でしょう. Since でしょう itself is derived from the copula, adding だ is redundant and ungrammatical. Another frequent error is confusing でしょう with かもしれない; while both express uncertainty, でしょう implies higher confidence ("probably") whereas かもしれない expresses mere possibility ("maybe, might"). Learners also sometimes fail to distinguish the two intonation patterns: falling intonation for conjecture and rising intonation for seeking confirmation. Using the wrong intonation can change the meaning entirely. Finally, some learners use だろう in polite situations where でしょう is more appropriate; だろう is the casual equivalent and can sound blunt in formal or polite conversations.
Related
だろうかもしれないと思うじゃないですからしいよね