Even in conditions when Japanese persons are fairly optimistic that one thing is true, they usually maintain again on expressing claims. Much like how one would possibly use a layer of wrapping paper to cover what is basically inside a package deal, when talking Japanese, Japanese audio system repeatedly encase their assertions in language that means they are not positive about it. To go well with this social custom, Japanese gives a wide range of grammatical phrases for various levels of certainty.
For instance, think about a state of affairs the place you arrive at work within the morning, and a coworker asks you whether or not you left a doc on her desk final evening. You didn’t try this, however you consider one other coworker, Tanaka-san, might have. That is what you may say:
- 田中さん[かな / かも / な気がする / だと思う]。
- It is likely to be Tanaka-san.
These 4 phrases are offered so as of diploma of certainty: from least sure to most sure. Though 4 would possibly appear to be sufficient, that is merely the tip of the iceberg. Japanese has much more comparable expressions, and understanding them is essential for talking the language in a extra Japanese-like method.
To help you in utilizing Japanese in a approach that presumably sounds extra Japanese, this text discusses these phrases so as of diploma of certainty. Are you able to study them? Possibly? Maybe? Nicely, it appears you might be prepared, I suppose. So, let’s get the ball rolling!
Conditions: This text assumes you already know hiragana and katakana. If you want to brush up, take a look at our Final Hiragana Information and Final Katakana Information.
Notes: This text concentrates extra on the subtleties of every time period, notably in bizarre talking or writing. Some expressions may not be applicable in formal writing, reminiscent of tutorial writing, as formal writing tends to require a inflexible and assertive fashion usually.
A Huge Image Have a look at Diploma of Certainty Phrases
As talked about within the introduction, there are many methods to convey your assumptions in Japanese. All of those expressions are for “judgments” made in gentle of the out there info. The knowledge of the judgment, nonetheless, might be totally different relying on how a lot info the speaker is aware of, and the way a lot they depend on it to make judgments, in addition to whether or not or not they reached their assumption subjectively or objectively.
To assist your understanding, here is a chart to indicate you a tough thought of the knowledge degree and the way subjectivity or objectivity every time period sounds:
“Sure” and “unsure” ought to be fairly self-explanatory, however what do I imply by “subjective” or “goal”? Mainly, the extra “subjective” a time period is, the extra closely it is based mostly by yourself assumptions and instinct, whereas extra “goal” phrases rely a bit extra on outdoors info or previous experiences along side your individual ideas.
Don’t be concerned when you aren’t aware of these precise expressions but, although — we will go over them one after the other. Additionally, when you really feel like this desk is lacking another phrases you already know, reminiscent of 多分 (maybe) or きっと (certainly), relaxation assured that I will be overlaying them on this article as nicely, however in a separate part on the backside!
Expressions For Conveying a Low Stage of Certainty
To start out, let’s introduce expressions for conveying the bottom degree of certainty.
〜かな for “I Surprise…”
To specific your feeling of uncertainty, you should use 〜かな. 〜かな is the equal of the English phrase “I ponder…” It is usually used with a notion or a hypothetical state of affairs that has come to thoughts, and implies that you need to take it with a pinch of salt.
For instance, when you sneeze and also you marvel you probably have a chilly, you may stick 〜かな onto 風邪 (chilly) and say:
- 風邪かな。
- I ponder if I’ve a chilly.
Right here, 〜かな expresses that whilst you assume you may need a chilly, you might be nonetheless not sure and are questioning about it.
You too can connect かな to an extended sentence. For example, when you marvel chances are you’ll develop a fever, you could possibly say:
- 熱が出るかな。
- I ponder if I am getting a fever.
In a approach, 〜かな is kind of like asking your self a query, and thus it is thought-about a casual expression.
Once more, on this instance, 〜かな signifies that though you are afraid of getting a fever, you might be nonetheless not sure and questioning about it.
Resulting from its nature, 〜かな lacks the well mannered kind. To specific this kind of hypothesis when talking to somebody in a well mannered method, you may as an alternative use 〜ですかね or 〜ますかね, or the extra formal 〜でしょうか(ね).
- 風邪[ですかね / でしょうか(ね)]。
- I ponder if I’ve a chilly.
(Actually: Do you assume I’ve a chilly?)
- 熱[出ますかね / 出るでしょうか(ね)]。
- I ponder if I am growing a fever.
(Actually: Do you assume I’ll develop a fever?)
Right here, です and ます are the marker for the politeness, か is the query particle, and ね is the confirmation-seeking particle. And, でしょう is without doubt one of the grammar factors used to precise hypothesis. If you happen to aren’t aware of them, take a look at the linked pages!
〜かもしれない for “Might” or “May”
〜かもしれない is the Japanese equal of “might” or “would possibly.” It communicates the implication that one thing could also be true, however you are not fully positive. In different phrases, it refers to your guess when there isn’t a concrete proof to help it.
Let’s use the identical state of affairs of you sneezing. As a substitute of “you marvel,” you assume you may need a chilly. On this case, you should use 〜かもしれない and say:
- 風邪かもしれない。
- I may need a chilly.
Right here, 〜かもしれない exhibits that even when you suspect that you just may need a chilly, you are not so positive. If you happen to’re very sure that your sneeze is being attributable to a chilly, you should not use 〜かもしれない.
Observe that 〜かもしれない is commonly shortened to only 〜かも in informal dialog, or in self-directed speech. So when you now have some chills and are telling your member of the family that you just would possibly develop a fever, it’s normal to drop しれない and say:
- 熱が出るかも。
- I could develop a fever.
Though it’s grammatically incorrect, some individuals use 〜かも with です to lend a way of informal politeness. So when you’re telling one in every of your superiors at work that you just’re pleasant with that you just would possibly get a fever, you could possibly say:
- 熱が出るかもです。
- I could develop a fever.
Nevertheless, you’ll use the correct well mannered kind, 〜かもしれません, when you have been talking to a different senior worker with whom you might have a stiff, sq. relationship.
- 熱が出るかもしれません。
- I could develop a fever.
Alright, you have most likely had sufficient of 〜かもしれない expressions, so let’s transfer onto the subsequent expression!
〜気がする for “I Have A Feeling…”
〜気がする actually interprets to “have a sense,” and it is used to precise that you just aren’t sure however “you might have a sense that one thing is likely to be the case.”
Since 〜気がする signifies that you’ve a hunch about one thing, it sounds barely extra sure than 〜かな (I ponder) or 〜かもしれない (perhaps/would possibly). Nevertheless, the knowledge degree of this expression remains to be low, as a result of it solely conveys a sense or guess based mostly on instinct, moderately than recognized information.
Let’s reuse the sneezing instance to see the way it works. After an enormous achoo, when you intuitively assume “Oh, I could have a chilly,” then you should use 〜気がする and say:
- 風邪引いた気がする。
- I’ve a sense that I’ve a chilly.
Right here, 〜気がする expresses that whilst you get the sensation that you’ve a chilly, there’s no stable proof to help this.
What when you’ve been experiencing chills and wish to inform your boss that you just sense a fever is coming subsequent? On this circumstance, you should use the well mannered 〜気がします and say:
- 熱が出そうな気がします。
- I’ve a sense that I could develop a fever.
As soon as extra, 〜気がします demonstrates that whilst you do have a sneaking suspicion that you could be get a fever, there’s no concrete proof to again this up.
Alright, now that we have lined all of the low certainty expressions (except for adverbs, which we’ll study later), let’s transfer on to the expressions for conveying a medium degree of certainty!
Expressions For Conveying a Medium Stage of Certainty
On this part, we’ll talk about expressions that convey a medium degree of certainty. You would possibly use these if you assume you might have some proof to help your argument, however it stays a matter of conjecture, and you do not wish to assert ideas too strongly.
〜っぽい for “Like…,” “-ish,” or “It Appears…”
〜っぽい is a slang-ish suffix that expresses similarity, as in “(really feel) like…,” or “-ish” in English. For instance, when you really feel like you might have a chilly, you may say:
- 風邪っぽい。
- I really feel like that I’ve a chilly.
And when you’re feverish, and also you wish to report that to your boss, you may add the well mannered です and say:
- 熱っぽいです。
- I really feel feverish.
In these examples, 〜っぽい casually signifies that you’ve some signs of a chilly or fever, however you do not essentially know you probably have an precise chilly or fever.
〜っぽい may also comply with the state of affairs by which you assume it is seemingly true based mostly in your statement, like:
- 風邪引いたっぽいです。
- It looks like I’ve a chilly.
On this case, 〜っぽい provides a way of ambiguity, like “Given the signs, it is seemingly I’ve a chilly, however it’s not a 100% positive factor.”
〜みたい for “Like…” or “It Appears…”
Much like 〜っぽい, 〜みたい is a suffix that expresses similarity or resemblance to one thing else. For example, when you discover a yellow tomato that tastes like or appears like a banana, you may say:
- バナナみたい。
- This is sort of a banana.
Relying on the state of affairs, the usage of 〜みたい right here means that the yellow tomato has a taste or look that’s much like a banana.
In case you are curious, 〜みたい and 〜っぽい are comparable however distinct phrases. バナナみたい implies that you assume the tomato in some way resembles or is much like a banana, whereas バナナっぽい describes the tomato as having traits which might be sort of like a banana.
Now, let’s change 〜っぽい with 〜みたい within the earlier instance 風邪引いたっぽい。(It looks like I’ve a chilly.), as in:
- 風邪引いたみたいです。
- It looks like I’ve a chilly.
〜みたい and 〜っぽい are certainly very comparable, and have the identical translation when used on this approach. If I have been to be choosy, there are very small variations between the 2, although.
That’s, 〜みたい demonstrates your evaluation that your situation is corresponding to, if not the identical as having a chilly, whereas 〜っぽい exhibits that, given your present circumstance, you get a sense that you’ve a chilly.
Since 〜みたい signifies your evaluation, 風邪引いたみたいです is barely extra sure than 風邪引いたっぽいです. Nevertheless, because of the ambivalence added by 〜みたい, 風邪引いたみたいです nonetheless presents the message that you just’re conscious that you just most likely have a chilly, however are coming to phrases with it.
〜だろう/〜でしょう for “I Guess In all probability…”
In case your speculation about one thing is predicated on opinions and views with some justifications, you should use the expression 〜だろう, or its well mannered kind 〜でしょう, as in:
- 風邪だろうね。
- I assume that is most likely a chilly.
- 熱も出るでしょうね。
- I assume that they’re going to most likely develop a fever, too.
Right here, 〜だろう/でしょう suggests that you’re making a private guess that you just consider might be true, whereas additionally suggesting that it’s supported by some type of proof.
These phrases are usually used whereas making an statement and drawing your individual conclusions. Though it’s attainable to make use of them to speak about your self, speaking about any person or one thing else is much extra typical.
One other factor to bear in mind is that だろう, or its abbreviation だろ, has an unrefined and rugged tone as-is. This rough-hewn side works nicely if you’re making an affirmative assertion about your guess in writing or in a proper speech. In bizarre talking, nonetheless, it sounds powerful and is commonly thought-about masculine.
To melt the sound, the ultimate particle ね is often used with it, simply as within the examples above 〜だろうね. However, 〜でしょう is a really well mannered expression and is favored in formal conditions. Including ね to it, as in 〜でしょうね, could make it sound female, although it is used throughout the gender spectrum in formal settings.
For these nuances, each 〜だろう and 〜でしょう may not at all times be the popular decisions in bizarre conversations. As a substitute, many individuals select 〜と思う (I feel…) as an alternative to convey their assertion usually conditions. Talking of which, you may simply scroll right down to see how 〜と思う is used!
〜と思う for “I Assume/Imagine…”
Whenever you draw a conclusion based mostly on some proof, and truly consider it is more likely to be true, you should use the expression 〜と思う (I feel/consider…), which is the mixture of the citation marker と and the verb 思う (to assume).
For instance, when you not solely sneezed however have chills and fatigue, chances are you’ll say:
- 風邪引いたと思う。
- I feel that I’ve a chilly.
Right here, 〜と思う expresses that you’ve some cause to again up your declare, and also you naturally got here to assume that is most likely the case.
Whenever you say 〜と思う, you might be merely expressing a thought, thought, or notion that simply occurred to you.
If you happen to’re questioning why the phrase “naturally” was inserted there, good eye! Japanese has two verbs for “assume,” 思う and 考える. Between the 2, 思う refers to extra spontaneous pondering that bubbles up naturally “in your coronary heart,” whereas 考える is a extra methodical sort of lively pondering, which we would say occurs “in your head.”
Now, let’s check out the above instance 風邪引いたと思う once more. Right here, the declare 風邪引いた (I caught/have a chilly) is a extremely satisfied sentence in and of itself (we’ll discuss this later too!), and what 〜と思う is doing is definitely softening the assertion by stating that it is the notion that naturally got here to you.
For that reason, the knowledge of 〜と思う adjustments relying on the sentence you connect it to. For instance, you may lower the extent of certainty by including 〜かな (I ponder) or 〜かも(しれない) (might/would possibly) to the declare, like:
- 風邪引いた[かな / かも(しれない)]と思う。
- I feel that I could have a chilly.
On this case, 〜と思う softens the already obscure かな/かもしれない statements and makes them even much less sure. However, when you add an adverb like 絶対 (positively), it turns into a powerful conviction:
- 絶対風邪引いたと思う。
- I feel that I positively have a chilly.
However once more, simply saying 絶対 風邪引いた with out 〜と思う is stronger, and what 〜と思う is actually softening the robust assertion.
This occurs in English too, however as was talked about at first, Japanese individuals usually reserve making assertions about one thing until they’re totally sure that it’s correct. Consequently, you hear 〜と思う, or 〜気がする (I’ve a sense…), used with many Japanese remarks to assist the speaker really feel relaxed.
There was rather a lot on this part to absorb, huh? One ultimate level: the well mannered type of 思う is 思います. So, use 思います when telling your ideas to somebody with whom you want to communicate to in a courteous method.
〜そう for “It Seems/Appears Like…”
You too can use 〜そう if you consider that one thing is about to occur, somebody goes to do one thing, or some situation is likely to be the case. For instance, when you really feel such as you would possibly develop a fever, you may mix it with the verb 出る and say:
- 熱が出そう。
- It appears/looks like I will develop a fever.
〜そう can be used with adjectives, too. For instance, in case your pal seen you were not feeling nicely, they may add 〜そう to an い-adjective しんどい and say:
- しんどそうだね。
- It appears/looks like you are not feeling nicely.
As talked about earlier, 〜そう principally interprets to “it appears/looks like” in English. To place it one other approach, you should use this to easily describe what you assume goes to occur, based mostly in your statement of the current state of affairs.
Since 〜そう is principally your report on what one thing “appears/looks like” based mostly in your statement, its definitely degree is barely increased than different expressions we have discovered thus far. Nevertheless, it nonetheless implies that you just aren’t sure, so when speaking about what’s seemingly about to occur, it usually goes nicely with 〜気がする, as in:
- 熱が出そうな気がする。
- I’ve a sense that I’ll seemingly develop a fever.
Observe that since 〜そう is an expression that is depending on what you might be observing on the time you are talking, you can’t use it to elucidate an occasion that occurred up to now.
Expressions For Conveying a Excessive Stage of Certainty
Now you have discovered all of the expressions for low and medium certainty, let’s transfer onto the high-certainty expressions.
〜はず for “Supposed To Be” or “Ought to Be”
If you happen to assume that one thing is “supposed” to be or “ought to” be the case, foreseeably based mostly on goal, logical inference, the phrase 〜はず is available in play.
So you probably have sneezed, get some chills, and foresee {that a} fever is about to develop, you may say:
- 熱が出るはず。
- I ought to have a fever quickly.
Right here, 〜はず signifies that you just consider that it is extremely seemingly {that a} fever is coming quickly, and that perception is predicated on believable info.
And in case your assistant at work has some reminiscence of getting acetaminophen within the workplace cupboard, they might politely say:
- 薬があったはずです。
- There ought to be some treatment, if I bear in mind accurately.
On this instance, 〜はず means that they’ve a reminiscence of getting some drugs, if their reminiscence is correct.
In different phrases, 〜はず signifies an awesome diploma of certainty, however not 100%. It conveys that you just assume or consider that one thing is the case, however that you just’re conscious that it isn’t essentially so.
〜に違いない for “Should”
Like 〜はず, 〜に 違いない additionally denotes a excessive diploma of certainty, however it implies that your individual subjective judgment is concerned to succeed in the conclusion.
It is simpler to understand the nuance of 〜に 違いない whereas evaluating it with 〜はず, so let’s deliver again the sooner instance of you foreseeing an upcoming fever for comparability:
- 熱が出る[はず / に違いない]。
- I ought to have a fever quickly.
The implication right here could be very comparable, as each indicate that you’ve got reached the belief that you’re extremely more likely to have a fever quickly, given that you just presently have sneezes and chills.
〜に違いない sounds extra assured and powerful than
〜はず, as a result of it conveys your private conviction on the conclusion.
The literal which means of 違いない is “no distinction” or “not a mistake.” It signifies that one thing is precisely what you assume with none distinction or inaccuracy.
Thus, the literal which means of the phrase 〜に違いない is “I affirm that XYZ is correct and proper in each side,” which after all conveys a really excessive diploma of certainty.
As you may see, what 〜に違いない implies is kind of inflexible. Therefore, it is extra of a literary expression than colloquial.
Though 〜はず and 〜に違いない have been interchangeable within the above instance, due to the slight distinction in nuance, they can not at all times be swapped. For example, on account of its robust confidence, 〜に違いない can’t be used within the state of affairs the place you bear in mind one thing and it is extremely seemingly, however you are not 100% positive, like:
- 薬があった[はず(です) / ❌に違いない(です) / ❌に違いありません]。
- There ought to be some treatment, if I bear in mind accurately.
If you happen to use 〜に違いない, or its well mannered varieties 〜に違いないです or 〜に違いありません, within the above sentence, it could sound as when you’re a detective or a some kind investigator — it is as when you’re drawing conclusions concerning the crime scene and asserting that some kind of treatment will need to have been current at a selected location up to now.
The bottom of your declare might be both information, information, and even simply your intuition, however with all the data at your disposal, 〜に違いない expresses that you just can’t be sure that that would be the case.
For this connotation, detective characters in fiction might incessantly make use of 〜に違いない in speech. Howenver, few individuals wish to sound like detectives in actual life, so to say the identical factor, individuals usually use 〜と思う, or its well mannered 〜と思うんです or 〜と思います, with an adverb, reminiscent of 絶対 (positively):
- 絶対薬があった[と思う / と思うんです / と思います]。
- I certainly assume that there was some treatment.
We’ll quickly undergo all of the adverbs for various ranges of certainty. Earlier than shifting on, nonetheless, we’ve one final expression for top certainty to debate: the plain kind.
Plain Kind for “Realization” or “Conviction”
Nearly all of textbooks do not point out this, however when Japanese individuals have simply realized one thing or are lastly satisfied that one thing is the case, they usually simply state it utilizing the phrase in its most simple “plain kind.”
For instance, when you sneeze and develop into satisfied that you’ve a chilly, you would possibly merely use the plain kind and say:
- あ、風邪引いた(わ/な)。
- Oh, I’ve/received a chilly.
Then, when you really feel a chill approaching and are sure a fever will begin, you may say:
- うん、熱も出る(わ/な)。
- Yep, I am gonna have a fever.
Now suppose you genuinely begin feeling sick and have a excessive fever, and consider it is a flu. You would possibly say:
- インフルエンザだ(わ/な)。
- This should be the flu.
These examples all have a plain kind ending, both within the current or the previous tense. They will nonetheless take sentence-final particles which might be directed at your self, reminiscent of わ (a judgment/sentiment marker) or な (a discovery marker). However even with out them, ending a sentence in a plain kind sufficiently communicates your judgment or your discovery that one thing is true and that you’re assured in it.
You do not usually see the well mannered kind on this use as a result of it is primarily used for a self-directed realization or conviction. Nevertheless, chances are you’ll use the well mannered kind if you’re speaking to the viewers and talking in a well mannered method usually.
For example, when you’re live-streaming your life and also you assume you might have a fever the second you have sneezed, you could possibly say:
- あ、風邪引きました(ね)。
- Oh, I’ve/received a chilly.
Then, when you really feel a chill and anticipate a fever approaching, you may say:
- うん、熱も出ます(ね)。
- Yep, I am gonna have a fever.
After which, you really get actually sick and have develop into to assume you might have the flu, you could possibly say:
- インフルエンザです(ね)。
- This should be the flu.
As you may see within the examples, it is customary to make use of the particle ね on this state of affairs to solicit viewers settlement, as in “do you agree with my realization?”
Okay, now that we have gone by means of each expression for certainty, all that is left is to take a look at adverbs! Do not be alarmed; since you have already discovered a lot, I will solely briefly undergo every adverb. So, let’s carry on and get to the end line of this text collectively!
Adverbs For Completely different Ranges of Uncertainty
Along with the expressions discovered above, there are adverbs that denote varied levels of uncertainty. These adverbs incessantly associate with different expressions you beforehand discovered, notably with 思う, however the frequency of collocations is determined by the phrase.
As promised, we cannot go into nice element about every adverb on this half; as an alternative, I will listing the fundamental adverbs for various ranges of uncertainty (sure, there are literally greater than our listing!😅), clarify the fundamental definition, and probably the most frequent collocation.
なんだか or なんか for “Considerably” or “By some means”
なんだか, or its extra colloquial informal model なんか, is an adverb for “considerably” or in some way.” This expression incessantly goes with 〜気がする, as in:
- なん(だ)か熱が出そうな気がする。
- By some means I’ve a sense that I could develop a fever.
By including なん(だ)か to the sentence with 〜気がする, it might probably muddy up your already-murky intuitive guess and make it sound extra ambiguous.
もしかしたら for “Possibly” or “Maybe”
もしかしたら is an adverb for “perhaps” or “maybe,” and it is used when presuming one thing with a level of doubt. This expression is commonly used with 〜かも(しれない), as in:
- もしかしたら風邪引いたかもしれない。
- Possibly I may need a chilly.
Different adverbs like もしかすると, ひょっとしたら, or ひょっとすると specific an identical nuance, however もしかしたら is the most typical.
多分 for “Possibly,” “Maybe,” or “In all probability”
多分 is one other phrase for “perhaps” or “maybe,” however its certainty degree is increased than もしかしたら and thus it mostly interprets as “most likely.”
Therefore, it is usually used with 〜だろう/でしょう or 〜と思う, as in:
- 多分風邪だろう。
- I assume it is most likely a chilly.
- 多分風邪引いたと思う。
- I feel I most likely have a chilly.
Nevertheless it can be used different expressions reminiscent of 〜かな, 〜かも(しれない), or 〜はず.
恐らく for “In all probability”
恐らく additionally normally interprets to “most likely”, however its certainty degree is increased than 多分, and it is usually used to foretell a nasty final result sooner or later. Additionally, the tone is extra formal and literary, so it is best suited to formal conversations or in writing.
Due to this nuance, 恐らく is mostly used with a really affirmative declare, accompanied by an inferring expression, reminiscent of 〜だろう/でしょう or 〜と思う.
- 恐らく風邪だろう。
- I assume it is most likely a chilly.
- 恐らく風邪を引いたんだと思います。
- I feel I most likely have a chilly.
Within the above examples, the primary one appears like a written sentence or a blunt, self-directed thought, whereas the latter appears like a proper and well mannered speech.
きっと for “In all probability,” “Absolutely,” or “Definitely”
きっと is one other adverb that would translate to “most likely,” however its certainty degree is way increased than 多分 or 恐らく and thus it mostly interprets to “certainly” or “definitely.”
Therefore, it may be used with an inferring expression, reminiscent of 〜だろう/でしょう or 〜と思う, however it might probably additionally go nicely with the expressions like 〜はず or 〜に 違いない.
- きっと熱が出る[だろう / と思う]。
- I assume I will certainly develop a fever.
- きっと熱が出る[はず / に違いない]。
- I am positive I will ought to develop a fever.
Observe that きっと additionally has different implications relying on the context. For instance, the next sentence can have two readings relying on the context.
- きっと元気になるよ！
- I am positive [I’ll / you’ll / they’ll] ought to be higher quickly.
Right here, when you’re speaking about your self, it expresses willpower — you are decided to be higher quickly. When speaking about another person, however, it might probably specific a powerful want — you actually hope they wish to be higher quickly.
確実に or 絶対に for “Absolutely,” “Definitely,” or “Completely”
確実に and 絶対に are the phrases for “certainly,” “definitely,” or “completely,” and so they specific a really excessive diploma of certainty.
Therefore, they can be utilized with an inferring expression, reminiscent of reminiscent of 〜だろう/でしょう or 〜と思う, but additionally go nicely with expressions like 〜はず, 〜に 違いない.
- [確実に / 絶対に]熱が出る[だろう / と思う]。
- I assume I will definitely develop a fever.
- [確実に / 絶対に]熱が出る[はず / に違いない]。
- I am positive I will definitely develop a fever.
And so they additionally go nicely with the plain kind when expressing “realization” or “conviction.”
- これ[確実に / 絶対に]インフルエンザだ。
- I am sure that is the flu.
Between the 2, 確実に facilities on “certainty” based mostly on the target incontrovertible fact that there aren’t any errors, adjustments, and so on., wheras 絶対に merely means “completely” and signifies being uncontested by something.
間違いなく for “Unmistakably” or “Undoubtedly”
One other adverb with a really excessive degree of certainty is 間違いなく, which point out your unambiguous conviction and might translate “unmistakably” or “positively.”
It goes nicely with an inferring expression, reminiscent of reminiscent of 〜だろう/でしょう or 〜と思う or the plain type of a phrase that expresses “realization” or “conviction.”
- 間違いなく熱が出る[だろう / と思う]。
- I assume I will positively develop a fever.
- 間違いなく熱が出る(わ)。
- I am positive I will positively develop a fever.
Observe that 間違いなく suggests that you’ve given your judgment that one thing is undeniably true based mostly on some info you might have. Consequently, it carries a extra formal tone when in comparison with 確実に and 絶対に, although it might probably nonetheless be utilized in on a regular basis speech.
Fairly Presumably the Conclusion
Whew! I do know that is numerous info to cowl, however don’t fret if you have not memorized all of it but. This web page is usually a reference so that you can revisit repeatedly till you have received all of it down.
Remember that the extent of certainty described on this article is simply an approximation, as the knowledge conveyed can change relying on the context of the sentence, the one that makes use of the expression, and extra.
Lastly, like I discussed, observe that this text is simply the tip of the iceberg; Japanese has tons of various methods for making statements much less sure or extra obscure, together with layering a number of the above expressions, utilizing double negatives, or extra. Nonetheless, hopefully it is a good start line for including extra nuance to your individual Japanese, or serving to you perceive the extent of certainty that somebody is attempting to precise. Try to observe what types of statements Japanese persons are making in actual life and the context by which they’re making these statements, and hopefully this kind of nuance will develop into second nature to you.
Footnotes:
