Japanese by Example
Learning through examples in manga

Presuming with 〜だろう and 〜でしょう

Presuming or supposing something, with no particular information or evidence to back up that position, is expressed by appending だろう (from だ) or でしょう (from です) to a noun, verb, or adjective. As an expression, it has the meaning of “I wonder” or “don’t you agree?”

See also

Examples

ご注文はうさぎですか? » Volume 1 » Page 51
ご注文はうさぎですか? » Volume 1 » Page 64
ご注文はうさぎですか? » Volume 1 » Page 18
ご注文はうさぎですか? » Volume 1 » Page 18
ご注文はうさぎですか? » Volume 1 » Page 48
ご注文はうさぎですか? » Volume 1 » Page 18
ご注文はうさぎですか? » Volume 1 » Page 110
ご注文はうさぎですか? » Volume 1 » Page 50

Supplemental examples

ああっ女神さまっ » Volume 2 » Page 75
ご注文はうさぎですか? » Volume 1 » Page 50
ご注文はうさぎですか? » Volume 1 » Page 110
ふだつきのキョーコちゃん » Volume 5 » Page 110
ご注文はうさぎですか? » Volume 1 » Page 18
ふらいんぐうぃっち » Volume 5 » Page 49

Further Reading

  • Kamiya, Taeko. "Expressing Conjecture and Hearsay, and Quoting People." Japanese Sentence Patterns for Effective Communication, Kodansha, 2005, p. 217
  • Makino, Seiichi and Michio Tsutsui. "Main Entries." A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar, The Japan Times Ltd., 1989, pp. 100–102