{"id":493,"date":"2017-10-16T19:47:00","date_gmt":"2017-10-16T23:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/?p=493"},"modified":"2018-07-23T13:16:02","modified_gmt":"2018-07-23T17:16:02","slug":"various-degrees-of-certainty-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/complete\/certainty","title":{"rendered":"Various degrees of certainty"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are various vocabulary words that can express various degrees of certainty, some of which is listed below. But beyond memorizing additional vocabulary, we also need to learn a number of sentence endings that also indicate various degrees of certainty.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \u7d76\u5bfe \u3010\u305c\u3063\u30fb\u305f\u3044\u3011 – absolutely, without a doubt<\/li>\n
  2. \u304d\u3063\u3068 – surely <\/li>\n
  3. \u591a\u5206 \u3010\u305f\u30fb\u3076\u3093\u3011 – probably, perhaps, more likely than not<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Indicating a fair amount of certainty<\/h2>\n

    You will often hear \u300c\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046\u300d at the very end of the sentence during, for instance, a weather forecast. It is used to express a fair amount of certainty when used with a flat intonation.<\/p>\n

    Example<\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. \u591c \u3010\u3088\u308b\u3011 – evening<\/li>\n
    2. \u96e8 \u3010\u3042\u3081\u3011 – rain<\/li>\n
    3. \u964d\u308b \u3010\u3075\u30fb\u308b\u3011(u-verb) – to precipitate<\/li>\n
    4. \u660e\u65e5 \u3010\u3042\u3057\u305f\u3011 – tomorrow<\/li>\n
    5. \u6674\u308c\u308b \u3010\u306f\u30fb\u308c\u308b\u3011(ru-verb) – to be sunny<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. \u591c\u306b\u306f\u3001\u96e8\u304c\u964d\u308b\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046<\/em>\u3002
        \nAt night, (it will) likely rain.<\/li>\n
      2. \u660e\u65e5\u306f\u3001\u6674\u308c\u308b\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046<\/em>\u3002
        \nTomorrow (will) likely be sunny.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        In casual situations, when expressed with a rising intonation, it is used to seek agreement similar to \u300c\u306d\u300d. However, while \u300c\u306d\u300d is used for what the speaker believes to be generally agreeable, \u300c\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046\u300d can be more assertive and opinionated. \u300c\u3060\u308d\u3046\u300d is another more masculine version of the casual usage of \u300c\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046\u300d. <\/p>\n

        Example<\/h3>\n
          \n
        1. \u9593\u306b\u5408\u3046 \u3010\u307e\u30fb\u306b\u30fb\u3042\u30fb\u3046\u3011(u-verb, exp) – to be in time for<\/li>\n
        2. \u8a00\u3046 \u3010\u3044\u30fb\u3046\u3011(u-verb) – to say<\/li>\n
        3. \u6642\u9593 \u3010\u3058\u30fb\u304b\u3093\u3011 – time<\/li>\n
        4. \u3042\u308b(u-verb) – to exist<\/li>\n
        5. \u307e\u3060 – yet; still<\/li>\n
        6. \u5927\u4e08\u592b \u3010\u3060\u3044\u30fb\u3058\u3087\u3046\u30fb\u3076\u3011 – ok<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
            \n
          1. \u9593\u306b\u5408\u308f\u306a\u3044\u3068\u8a00\u3063\u305f\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046<\/em>\uff1f
            \n(I) said won’t make it in time, didn’t I?<\/li>\n
          2. \u6642\u9593\u304c\u3042\u308b\u304b\u3089\u3001\u307e\u3060\u5927\u4e08\u592b\u3060\u308d\u3046<\/em>\u3002
            \nThere’s time so (it’s) probably still ok.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Indicating a possibility<\/h2>\n

            \u300c\u304b\u3082\u3057\u308c\u306a\u3044\u300d is another sentence ending that expresses a neutral possibility with about 50% level of confidence. It is simply the \u300c\u304b\u300d and \u300c\u3082\u300d particles combined with the potential negative form of \u300c\u77e5\u308b\u300d (literally meaning “can’t know even if…”). This means that it conjugates just like any other negative ru-verb.<\/p>\n

            Example<\/h3>\n
              \n
            1. \u660e\u65e5 \u3010\u3042\u3057\u305f\u3011 – tomorrow<\/li>\n
            2. \u9045\u3044 \u3010\u304a\u305d\u30fb\u3044\u3011(i-adj) – late<\/li>\n
            3. \u306a\u308b(u-verb) – to become<\/li>\n
            4. \u4ed6 \u3010\u307b\u304b\u3011 – other<\/li>\n
            5. \u5e97 \u3010\u307f\u305b\u3011 – store<\/li>\n
            6. \u65b9 \u3010\u307b\u3046\u3011 – direction<\/li>\n
            7. \u5b89\u3044 \u3010\u3084\u3059\u30fb\u3044\u3011(i-adj) – cheap<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                \n
              1. \u660e\u65e5\u306f\u9045\u304f\u306a\u308b\u304b\u3082\u3057\u308c\u306a\u3044<\/em>\u3002
                \nMight be late tomorrow.<\/li>\n
              2. \u4ed6\u306e\u5e97\u306e\u65b9\u304c\u5b89\u3044\u304b\u3082\u3057\u308c\u307e\u305b\u3093<\/em>\u3002
                \nAnother store may be cheaper.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                For casual situations, this grammar can be shortened to just \u300c\u304b\u3082\u300d.<\/p>\n

                  \n
                1. \u30c9\u30a2 – door<\/li>\n
                2. \u9375 \u3010\u304b\u304e\u3011 – key<\/li>\n
                3. \u304b\u3051\u308b (ru-verb) – to hang; to lock<\/li>\n
                4. \u5fd8\u308c\u308b \u3010\u308f\u3059\u30fb\u308c\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to forget<\/li>\n
                5. \u30b1\u30fc\u30ad – cake<\/li>\n
                6. \u307e\u3060 – yet; still<\/li>\n
                7. \u6b8b\u308b \u3010\u306e\u3053\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (u-verb) – to remain; to be left<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                    \n
                  1. \u3042\u3063\u3001\u30c9\u30a2\u306b\u9375\u3092\u304b\u3051\u308b\u306e\u3092\u5fd8\u308c\u305f\u304b\u3082<\/em>\uff01
                    \nOh, (I) might have forgot to lock the door!<\/li>\n
                  2. \u30b1\u30fc\u30ad\u306f\u307e\u3060\u6b8b\u3063\u3066\u3044\u308b\u304b\u3082<\/em>\u3088\u3002
                    \nThere might be some cake left still, you know.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                    Expressing wonder\/doubt<\/h2>\n

                    We can use \u300c\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046\u300d or \u300c\u3060\u308d\u3046\u300d with the question marker \u300c\u304b\u300d to question whether something is actually true. This is often used to express doubt or reflection.<\/p>\n

                    Example<\/h3>\n
                      \n
                    1. \u3053\u308c – this<\/li>\n
                    2. \u3044\u3044 (i-adj) – good<\/li>\n
                    3. \u679c\u305f\u3057\u3066 \u3010\u306f\u30fb\u305f\u3057\u3066\u3011 – as was expected; really? (in questions)<\/li>\n
                    4. \u8b0e \u3010\u306a\u305e\u3011 – puzzle; riddle<\/li>\n
                    5. \u89e3\u3051\u308b \u3010\u3068\u30fb\u3051\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to be solved; to come untied<\/li>\n
                    6. \u8005 \u3010\u3082\u306e\u3011 – person<\/li>\n
                    7. \u3044\u308b (ru-verb) – to exist (animate)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                        \n
                      1. \u3053\u308c\u3067\u3088\u304b\u3063\u305f\u306e\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046\u304b<\/em>\uff1f
                        \nWas it ok like this (I wonder)?<\/li>\n
                      2. \u679c\u305f\u3057\u3066\u3053\u306e\u306a\u305e\u3092\u89e3\u3051\u308b\u8005\u306f\u3044\u308b\u3093\u3060\u308d\u3046\u304b<\/em>\uff1f
                        \nWill there be someone who can solve this riddle?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                        For casual situations, we can attach \u300c\u304b\u306a\u300d to the end of a sentence.<\/p>\n

                        Example<\/h3>\n
                          \n
                        1. \u5f7c\u5973 \u3010\u304b\u306e\u30fb\u3058\u3087\u3011 – she; girlfriend<\/li>\n
                        2. \u3069\u3046\u3057\u3066 – why<\/li>\n
                        3. \u305d\u3093\u306a – that sort of; that extent<\/li>\n
                        4. \u3059\u3050 – soon<\/li>\n
                        5. \u30ad\u30ec\u308b – to lose temper \uff08slang from \u3010\u5207\u308c\u308b\u3011\uff09<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                            \n
                          1. \u3053\u308c\u3067\u3088\u304b\u3063\u305f\u304b\u306a<\/em>\uff1f
                            \nWas ok like this (I wonder)?<\/li>\n
                          2. \u5f7c\u5973\u306f\u3069\u3046\u3057\u3066\u305d\u3093\u306a\u306b\u3059\u3050\u30ad\u30ec\u308b\u304b\u306a<\/em>\uff1f
                            \nWhy does she lose (her) temper that soon (I wonder)?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                            Recalling a memory<\/h2>\n

                            The sentence-ending particle \u300c\u3063\u3051\u300d is used to describe something you’re trying to recall such as a vague memory or something you recently forgot.<\/p>\n

                            Example<\/h3>\n
                              \n
                            1. \u3042\u308c – that (over there); huh?<\/li>\n
                            2. \u9375 \u3010\u304b\u304e\u3011 – key<\/li>\n
                            3. \u3069\u3053 – where<\/li>\n
                            4. \u7f6e\u304f \u3010\u304a\u30fb\u304f\u3011 (u-verb) – to put, to place<\/li>\n
                            5. \u5f7c \u3010\u304b\u308c\u3011 – he; boyfriend<\/li>\n
                            6. \u540d\u524d \u3010\u306a\u30fb\u307e\u3048\u3011 – name<\/li>\n
                            7. \u4f55 \u3010\u306a\u306b\uff0f\u306a\u3093\u3011 – what<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                                \n
                              1. \u3042\u308c\uff1f\u304b\u304e\u3092\u3069\u3053\u306b\u7f6e\u3044\u305f\u3063\u3051<\/em>\uff1f
                                \nHuh? Where did (I) place (the) key(s)?<\/li>\n
                              2. \u5f7c\u306e\u540d\u524d\u306f\u4f55\u3067\u3057\u305f\u3063\u3051<\/em>\uff1f
                                \nWhat was his name again?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                \u6599\u7406\u306f\u4e0b\u624b\u3058\u3083\u306a\u3044\u304b\u3082<\/em>\uff1f<\/h2>\n
                                  \n
                                1. \u6599\u7406 \u3010\u308a\u3087\u3046\u30fb\u308a\u3011 – cooking<\/li>\n
                                2. \u4e0b\u624b \u3010\u3078\u305f\u3011(na-adj) – unskilled, bad at<\/li>\n
                                3. \u305f\u3060\u3044\u307e – expression for coming back home (I’m home)<\/li>\n
                                4. \u304a\u6bcd\u3055\u3093 \u3010\u304a\u30fb\u304b\u3042\u30fb\u3055\u3093\u3011 – mother (polite)<\/li>\n
                                5. \u8cb7\u3044\u7269 \u3010\u304b\u30fb\u3044\u30fb\u3082\u306e\u3011 – shopping<\/li>\n
                                6. \u51fa\u304b\u3051\u308b \u3010\u3067\u30fb\u304b\u3051\u308b\u3011(ru-verb) – to go out<\/li>\n
                                7. \u3044\u3064 – when<\/li>\n
                                8. \u5e30\u308b \u3010\u304b\u3048\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (u-verb) – to go home<\/li>\n
                                9. \u6765\u308b \u3010\u304f\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (exception) – to come<\/li>\n
                                10. \u305f\u3063\u305f\u4eca \u3010\u305f\u3063\u305f\u30fb\u3044\u307e\u3011 – just now<\/li>\n
                                11. \u5bb6 \u3010\u3044\u3048\u3011 – house<\/li>\n
                                12. \u51fa\u308b \u3010\u3067\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (ru-verb) – to come out<\/li>\n
                                13. \uff5e\u6642 \u3010\uff5e\u3058\u3011 – counter for hours; \uff5e o’clock<\/li>\n
                                14. \u3050\u3089\u3044 – approximately, around<\/li>\n
                                15. \u305d\u3046 – (things are) that way<\/li>\n
                                16. \u304a\u8179 \u3010\u304a\u30fb\u306a\u304b\u3011 – stomach<\/li>\n
                                17. \u7a7a\u304f \u3010\u3059\u30fb\u304f\u3011 (u-verb) – to become empty<\/li>\n
                                18. \u304a\u7236\u3055\u3093 \u3010\u304a\u30fb\u3068\u3046\u30fb\u3055\u3093\u3011 – father (polite)<\/li>\n
                                19. \u4f55\u304b \u3010\u306a\u306b\u30fb\u304b\u3011 – something<\/li>\n
                                20. \u4f5c\u308b \u3010\u3064\u304f\u30fb\u308b\u3011 (u-verb) – to make<\/li>\n
                                21. \u7c21\u5358 \u3010\u304b\u3093\u30fb\u305f\u3093\u3011 (na-adj) – simple<\/li>\n
                                22. \u7269 \u3010\u3082\u306e\u3011 – object<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                                  \u30a2\u30ea\u30b9\uff1a\u305f\u3060\u3044\u307e\u3002\u304a\u6bcd\u3055\u3093\u306f\uff1f
                                  \nAlice: I’m home. What about Mom?<\/p>\n

                                  \u304a\u7236\u3055\u3093\uff1a\u8cb7\u3044\u7269\u306b\u51fa\u304b\u3051\u305f\u3088\u3002
                                  \nDad: (She) went out for shopping.<\/p>\n

                                  \u30a2\u30ea\u30b9\uff1a\u3044\u3064\u5e30\u3063\u3066\u304f\u308b\u306e\uff1f
                                  \nAlice: When is (she) coming back home?<\/p>\n

                                  \u304a\u7236\u3055\u3093\uff1a\u305f\u3063\u305f\u4eca\u5bb6\u3092\u51fa\u305f\u304b\u3089\u3001\uff19\u6642\u3050\u3089\u3044\u306b\u306f\u5e30\u3063\u3066\u304f\u308b\u3060\u308d\u3046<\/em>\u3002
                                  \nDad: (She) just left (the) house so (she’ll) probably come back home around 9:00.<\/p>\n

                                  \u30a2\u30ea\u30b9\uff1a\u305d\u3046\u306a\u306e\uff1f\u3042\u3042\u3001\u304a\u306a\u304b\u3059\u3044\u305f\uff01
                                  \nAlice: Is that so? Ah, (I’m) hungry!<\/p>\n

                                  \u304a\u7236\u3055\u3093\uff1a\u3058\u3083\u3001\u304a\u7236\u3055\u3093\u304c\u4f55\u304b\u4f5c\u308d\u3046\u304b\uff1f
                                  \nDad: Then shall dad make something?<\/p>\n

                                  \u30a2\u30ea\u30b9\uff1a\u304a\u7236\u3055\u3093\u306f\u3001\u6599\u7406\u304c\u4e0b\u624b\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046<\/em>\uff1f
                                  \nAlice: Dad, (you’re) bad at cooking, right?<\/p>\n

                                  \u304a\u7236\u3055\u3093\uff1a\u7c21\u5358\u306a\u3082\u306e\u306f\u4f5c\u308c\u308b\u304b\u3082\u3057\u308c\u306a\u3044<\/em>\u3088\uff1f
                                  \nDad: (I) might be able to make something simple, you know?<\/p>\n

                                  \u30a2\u30ea\u30b9\uff1a\u305d\u3046\u304b\u306a<\/em>\uff1f
                                  \nAlice: Is that so (you think)?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                  There are various vocabulary words that can express various degrees of certainty, some of which is listed below. But beyond memorizing additional vocabulary, we also need to learn a number of sentence endings that also indicate various degrees of certainty. \u7d76\u5bfe \u3010\u305c\u3063\u30fb\u305f\u3044\u3011 – absolutely, without a doubt \u304d\u3063\u3068 – surely \u591a\u5206 \u3010\u305f\u30fb\u3076\u3093\u3011 – probably, perhaps, … <\/p>\n

                                  Continue reading “Various degrees of certainty”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"series":[7],"class_list":["post-493","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-potential-and-uncertainty","series-complete-guide"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/493","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=493"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/493\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1579,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/493\/revisions\/1579"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=493"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=493"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=493"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guidetojapanese.org\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=493"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}