11 Japanese Expressions for Totally different Ranges of Uncertainty

Even in conditions when Japanese persons are fairly constructive that one thing is true, they sometimes maintain again on expressing claims. Just like how one may use a layer of wrapping paper to cover what is actually inside a package deal, when talking Japanese, Japanese audio system usually encase their assertions in language that means they are not certain about it. To swimsuit this social custom, Japanese presents a wide range of grammatical phrases for various levels of certainty.

For instance, think about a situation 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 night time. You didn’t do this, however you imagine one other coworker, Tanaka-san, could have. That is what you’ll be able to 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 may seem 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 manner that probably sounds extra Japanese, this text discusses these phrases so as of diploma of certainty. Are you able to study them? Possibly? Maybe? Effectively, it appears you’re prepared, I suppose. So, let’s get the ball rolling!

Conditions: This text assumes you already know hiragana and katakana. If it’s good 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 extraordinary talking or writing. Some expressions won’t be applicable in formal writing, corresponding to tutorial writing, as formal writing tends to require a inflexible and assertive fashion typically.

A Large Image Take 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 mild of the out there data. The understanding of the judgment, nonetheless, could be totally different relying on how a lot data 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 concept of the knowledge stage 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”? Principally, the extra “subjective” a time period is, the extra closely it is primarily based by yourself assumptions and instinct, whereas extra “goal” phrases rely a bit extra on exterior data or previous experiences at the side of your individual ideas.

Don’t fret for those who aren’t conversant in these precise expressions but, although — we will go over them one after the other. Additionally, for those who really feel like this desk is lacking another phrases you already know, corresponding to 多分 (maybe) or きっと (absolutely), relaxation assured that I will be masking them on this article as properly, however in a separate part on the backside!

Expressions For Conveying a Low Degree of Certainty

To begin, let’s introduce expressions for conveying the bottom stage of certainty.

〜かな for “I Surprise…”

To precise your feeling of uncertainty, you should utilize 〜かな. 〜かな is the equal of the English phrase “I ponder…” It is typically used with a notion or a hypothetical situation that has come to thoughts, and implies that it’s best to take it with a pinch of salt.

For instance, for those who sneeze and also you surprise in case you have a chilly, you’ll be able to 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 suppose you might need a chilly, you’re nonetheless not sure and are questioning about it.

You can too connect かな to an extended sentence. For example, for those who surprise you could develop a fever, you might say:

• 熱が出るかな。
• I ponder if I am getting a fever.

In a manner, 〜かな is type of like asking your self a query, and thus it is thought-about an off-the-cuff expression.

Once more, on this instance, 〜かな signifies that despite the fact that you are afraid of getting a fever, you’re nonetheless not sure and questioning about it.

As a result of its nature, 〜かな lacks the well mannered type. ^{To precise this type of hypothesis when chatting with somebody in a well mannered method, you’ll be able to 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 suppose I’ve a chilly?)

• 熱[出ますかね / 出るでしょうか(ね)]。
• I ponder if I am creating a fever.
  
  (Actually: Do you suppose 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 likely one of the grammar factors used to precise hypothesis. Should you aren’t conversant in them, try the linked pages!

〜かもしれない for “Could” or “Would possibly”

〜かもしれない is the Japanese equal of “could” or “may.” It communicates the implication that one thing could also be true, however you are not fully certain. In different phrases, it refers to your guess when there is no such thing as a concrete proof to assist it.

Let’s use the identical situation of you sneezing. As a substitute of “you surprise,” you suppose you might need a chilly. On this case, you should utilize 〜かもしれない and say:

• 風邪かもしれない。
• I might need a chilly.

Right here, 〜かもしれない reveals that even for those who suspect that you simply might need a chilly, you are not so certain. Should you’re very sure that your sneeze is being attributable to a chilly, you should not use 〜かもしれない.

Notice that 〜かもしれない is commonly shortened to only 〜かも in informal dialog, or in self-directed speech. So for those who now have some chills and are telling your member of the family that you simply may develop a fever, it is common 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 folks use 〜かも with です to lend a way of informal politeness. So for those who’re telling one in every of your superiors at work that you simply’re pleasant with that you simply may get a fever, you might say:

• 熱が出るかもです。
• I could develop a fever.

Nevertheless, you’d use the right well mannered type, 〜かもしれません, for those who had been talking to a different senior worker with whom you’ve got a stiff, sq. relationship.

• 熱が出るかもしれません。
• I could develop a fever.

Alright, you’ve got in all probability 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 simply aren’t sure however “you’ve got a sense that one thing is likely to be the case.”

Since 〜気がする signifies that you’ve got a hunch about one thing, it sounds barely extra sure than 〜かな (I ponder) or 〜かもしれない (possibly/may). Nevertheless, the knowledge stage of this expression continues to be low, as a result of it solely conveys a sense or guess primarily based on instinct, reasonably than recognized info.

Let’s reuse the sneezing instance to see the way it works. After a giant achoo, for those who intuitively suppose “Oh, I could have a chilly,” then you should utilize 〜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 got a chilly, there is no strong proof to assist this.

What for those who’ve been experiencing chills and need to inform your boss that you simply sense a fever is coming subsequent? On this circumstance, you should utilize 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 is no concrete proof to again this up.

Alright, now that we have coated all of the low certainty expressions (aside from adverbs, which we’ll study later), let’s transfer on to the expressions for conveying a medium stage of certainty!

Expressions For Conveying a Medium Degree of Certainty

On this part, we’ll focus on expressions that convey a medium stage of certainty. You may use these once you suppose you’ve got some proof to assist your argument, nevertheless it stays a matter of conjecture, and you do not need 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, for those who really feel like you’ve got a chilly, you’ll be able to say:

• 風邪っぽい。
• I really feel like that I’ve a chilly.

And for those who’re feverish, and also you need to report that to your boss, you’ll be able to 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 got some signs of a chilly or fever, however you do not essentially know in case you have an precise chilly or fever.

〜っぽい can even observe the state of affairs by which you suppose it is doubtless true primarily based 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 doubtless I’ve a chilly, nevertheless it’s not a 100% certain factor.”

〜みたい for “Like…” or “It Appears…”

Just like 〜っぽい, 〜みたい is a suffix that expresses similarity or resemblance to one thing else. For example, for those who discover a yellow tomato that tastes like or appears to be like like a banana, you’ll be able to say:

• バナナみたい。
• This is sort of a banana.

Relying on the state of affairs, using 〜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 signifies that you suppose 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 are type 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 manner. If I had 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 similar to, if not the identical as having a chilly, whereas 〜っぽい reveals that, given your present circumstance, you get a sense that you’ve got 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 simply’re conscious that you simply in all probability have a chilly, however are coming to phrases with it.

〜だろう/〜でしょう for “I Guess Most likely…”

In case your speculation about one thing is predicated on opinions and views with some justifications, you should utilize the expression 〜だろう, or its well mannered type 〜でしょう, as in:

• 風邪だろうね。
• I assume that is in all probability a chilly.

• 熱も出るでしょうね。
• I assume that they’re going to in all probability develop a fever, too.

Right here, 〜だろう/でしょう suggests that you’re making a private guess that you simply imagine might be true, whereas additionally suggesting that it’s supported by some type of proof.

These phrases are sometimes 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 anyone or one thing else is way extra typical.

One other factor to remember is that だろう, or its abbreviation だろ, has an unrefined and rugged tone as-is. This rough-hewn side works properly once you’re making an affirmative assertion about your guess in writing or in a proper speech. In extraordinary talking, nonetheless, it sounds robust 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. Then again, 〜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 won’t at all times be the popular selections in extraordinary conversations. As a substitute, many individuals select 〜と思う (I feel…) as an alternative to convey their assertion typically conditions. Talking of which, you’ll be able to simply scroll right down to see how 〜と思う is used!

〜と思う for “I Suppose/Imagine…”

If you draw a conclusion primarily based on some proof, and truly imagine it is prone to be true, you should utilize the expression 〜と思う (I feel/imagine…), which is the mix of the citation marker と and the verb 思う (to suppose).

For instance, for those who not solely sneezed however have chills and fatigue, you could 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 got some cause to again up your declare, and also you naturally got here to suppose that is in all probability the case.

If you say 〜と思う, you’re merely expressing a thought, concept, or notion that simply occurred to you.

Should you’re questioning why the phrase “naturally” was inserted there, good eye! Japanese has two verbs for “suppose,” 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 type 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 speak about 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.

Because of this, the knowledge of 〜と思う adjustments relying on the sentence you connect it to. For instance, you’ll be able to lower the extent of certainty by including 〜かな (I ponder) or 〜かも(しれない) (could/may) 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 imprecise かな/かもしれない statements and makes them even much less sure. Then again, for those who add an adverb like 絶対 (undoubtedly), it turns into a robust conviction:

• 絶対風邪引いたと思う。
• I feel that I undoubtedly 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 basically softening the sturdy assertion.

This occurs in English too, however as was talked about to start with, Japanese folks sometimes reserve making assertions about one thing except they’re absolutely sure that it’s correct. Because of this, 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 loads on this part to absorb, huh? One closing 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 it’s good to converse to in a courteous method.

〜そう for “It Appears to be like/Appears Like…”

You can too use 〜そう once you imagine that one thing is about to occur, somebody goes to do one thing, or some situation is likely to be the case. For instance, for those who really feel such as you may develop a fever, you’ll be able to mix it with the verb 出る and say:

• 熱が出そう。
• It appears to be like/looks like I will develop a fever.

〜そう may also be used with adjectives, too. For instance, in case your good friend seen you were not feeling properly, they may add 〜そう to an い-adjective しんどい and say:

• しんどそうだね。
• It appears to be like/looks like you are not feeling properly.

As talked about earlier, 〜そう mainly interprets to “it appears to be like/looks like” in English. To place it one other manner, you should utilize this to easily describe what you suppose goes to occur, primarily based in your statement of the current state of affairs.

Since 〜そう is mainly your report on what one thing “appears to be like/looks like” primarily based in your statement, its certainty stage is barely larger than different expressions we have realized to this point. Nevertheless, it nonetheless implies that you simply aren’t sure, so when speaking about what’s seemingly about to occur, it typically goes properly 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.

Notice that since 〜そう is an expression that is depending on what you’re observing on the time you are talking, you can not use it to clarify an occasion that occurred up to now.

Expressions For Conveying a Excessive Degree of Certainty

Now you’ve got realized 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”

Should you suppose that one thing is “supposed” to be or “ought to” be the case, foreseeably primarily based on goal, logical inference, the phrase 〜はず is available in play.

So in case you have sneezed, get some chills, and foresee {that a} fever is about to develop, you’ll be able to say:

• 熱が出るはず。
• I ought to have a fever quickly.

Right here, 〜はず signifies that you simply imagine that it is extremely doubtless {that a} fever is coming quickly, and that perception is predicated on believable data.

And in case your assistant at work has some reminiscence of getting acetaminophen within the workplace cupboard, they may politely say:

• 薬があったはずです。
• There ought to be some remedy, if I keep in mind appropriately.

On this instance, 〜はず means that they’ve a reminiscence of getting some medication, if their reminiscence is correct.

In different phrases, 〜はず signifies an excellent diploma of certainty, however not 100%. It conveys that you simply assume or imagine that one thing is the case, however that you simply’re conscious that it isn’t essentially so.

〜に違いない for “Should”

Like 〜はず, 〜に 違（ちが）いない additionally denotes a excessive diploma of certainty, nevertheless it implies that your individual subjective judgment is concerned to succeed in the conclusion.

It is simpler to understand the nuance of 〜に 違（ちが）いない whereas evaluating it with 〜はず, so let’s carry 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 may be very comparable, as each indicate that you have reached the idea that you’re extremely prone to have a fever quickly, given that you simply presently have sneezes and chills.

〜に違いない sounds extra assured and robust 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 suppose 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’ll be able to see, what 〜に違いない implies is sort of inflexible. Therefore, it is extra of a literary expression than colloquial.

Though 〜はず and 〜に違いない had been interchangeable within the above instance, due to the slight distinction in nuance, they can not at all times be swapped. For example, as a consequence of its sturdy confidence, 〜に違いない can’t be used within the state of affairs the place you keep in mind one thing and it is extremely doubtless, however you are not 100% certain, 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 remedy, if I keep in mind appropriately.

Should you use 〜に違いない, or its well mannered kinds 〜に違いないです or 〜に違いありません, within the above sentence, it will sound as for those who’re a detective or a some type investigator — it is as for those who’re drawing conclusions concerning the crime scene and asserting that some type of remedy will need to have been current at a particular location up to now.

The bottom of your declare could be both info, information, and even simply your intuition, however with all the data at your disposal, 〜に違いない expresses that you simply can’t be sure that that would be the case.

For this connotation, detective characters in fiction could often make use of 〜に違いない in speech. Nevertheless, few folks need to sound like detectives in actual life, so to say the identical factor, folks sometimes use 〜と思う, or its well mannered 〜と思うんです or 〜と思います, with an adverb, corresponding to 絶対 (undoubtedly):

• 絶対薬があった[と思う / と思うんです / と思います]。
• I absolutely suppose that there was some remedy.

We’ll quickly undergo all of the adverbs for various ranges of certainty. Earlier than transferring on, nonetheless, now we have one final expression for prime certainty to debate: the plain type.

Plain Kind for “Realization” or “Conviction”

The vast majority of textbooks do not point out this, however when Japanese folks have simply realized one thing or are lastly satisfied that one thing is the case, they sometimes simply state it utilizing the phrase in its most elementary “plain type.”

For instance, for those who sneeze and turn into satisfied that you’ve got a chilly, you may merely use the plain type and say:

• あ、風邪引いた(わ/な)。
• Oh, I’ve/received a chilly.

Then, for those who really feel a chill approaching and are sure a fever will begin, you’ll be able to 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 imagine it is a flu. You may say:

• インフルエンザだ(わ/な)。
• This have to be the flu.

These examples all have a plain type ending, both within the current or the previous tense. They’ll nonetheless take sentence-final particles which are directed at your self, corresponding to わ (a judgment/sentiment marker) or な (a discovery marker). However even with out them, ending a sentence in a plain type sufficiently communicates your judgment or your discovery that one thing is true and that you’re assured in it.

You do not sometimes see the well mannered type on this use as a result of it is primarily used for a self-directed realization or conviction. Nevertheless, you could use the well mannered type in case you are speaking to the viewers and talking in a well mannered method typically.

For example, for those who’re live-streaming your life and also you suppose you’ve got a fever the second you’ve got sneezed, you might say:

• あ、風邪引きました(ね)。
• Oh, I’ve/received a chilly.

Then, for those who really feel a chill and anticipate a fever approaching, you’ll be able to say:

• うん、熱も出ます(ね)。
• Yep, I am gonna have a fever.

After which, you truly get actually sick and have turn into to suppose you’ve got the flu, you might say:

• インフルエンザです(ね)。
• This have to be the flu.

As you’ll be able to 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 each expression for certainty, all that is left is to have a look at adverbs! Do not be alarmed; since you’ve got already realized 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 Totally different Ranges of Uncertainty

Along with the expressions realized above, there are adverbs that denote numerous levels of uncertainty. These adverbs often go along with different expressions you beforehand realized, notably with 思う, however the frequency of collocations will depend on the phrase.

As promised, we can’t go into nice element about every adverb on this half; as an alternative, I will checklist the fundamental adverbs for various ranges of uncertainty (sure, there are literally greater than our checklist!😅), 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 often 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 will possibly 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 “possibly” 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 might 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 the same nuance, however もしかしたら is the commonest.

多分 for “Possibly,” “Maybe,” or “Most likely”

多分 is one other phrase for “possibly” or “maybe,” however its certainty stage is larger than もしかしたら and thus it mostly interprets as “in all probability.”

Therefore, it is sometimes 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 in all probability a chilly.

• 多分風邪引いたと思う。
• I feel I in all probability have a chilly.

Nevertheless it may also be used with different expressions corresponding to 〜かな, 〜かも(しれない), or 〜はず.

恐らく for “Most likely”

恐（おそ）らく additionally normally interprets to “in all probability”, however its certainty stage is larger than 多分, and it is typically used to foretell a nasty final result sooner or later. Additionally, the tone is extra formal and literary, so it is best fitted to formal conversations or in writing.
Due to this nuance, 恐（おそ）らく is mostly used with a really affirmative declare, accompanied by an inferring expression, corresponding to 〜だろう/でしょう or 〜と思う.

• 恐らく風邪だろう。
• I assume it is in all probability a chilly.

• 恐らく風邪を引いたんだと思います。
• I feel I in all probability have a chilly.

Within the above examples, the primary one seems like a written sentence or a blunt, self-directed thought, whereas the latter seems like a proper and well mannered speech.

きっと for “Most likely,” “Absolutely,” or “Definitely”

きっと is one other adverb that might translate to “in all probability,” however its certainty stage is far larger than 多分 or 恐（おそ）らく and thus it mostly interprets to “absolutely” or “definitely.”

Therefore, it may be used with an inferring expression, corresponding to 〜だろう/でしょう or 〜と思う, however it will possibly additionally go properly with the expressions like 〜はず or 〜に 違（ちが）いない.

• きっと熱が出る[だろう / と思う]。
• I assume I will absolutely develop a fever.

• きっと熱が出る[はず / に違いない]。
• I am certain I will develop a fever.

Notice 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 certain [I’ll / you’ll / they’ll] be higher quickly.

Right here, for those who’re speaking about your self, it expresses dedication — you are decided to be higher quickly. When speaking about another person, however, it will possibly specific a robust need — you actually hope they need to be higher quickly.

確実に or 絶対に for “Absolutely,” “Definitely,” or “Completely”

確実（かくじつ）に and 絶対に are the phrases for “absolutely,” “definitely,” or “completely,” and so they specific a really excessive diploma of certainty.

Therefore, they can be utilized with an inferring expression, corresponding to corresponding to 〜だろう/でしょう or 〜と思う, but additionally go properly with expressions like 〜はず, 〜に 違（ちが）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 certain I will definitely develop a fever.

They usually additionally go properly with the plain type 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（かくじつ）に facilities on “certainty” primarily based on the target proven fact that there are not 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 stage of certainty is 間違（まちが）いなく, which signifies your unambiguous conviction and might translate “unmistakably” or “undoubtedly.”

It goes properly with an inferring expression, corresponding to corresponding to 〜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 undoubtedly develop a fever.

• 間違いなく熱が出る(わ)。
• I am certain I will undoubtedly develop a fever.

Notice that 間違（まちが）いなく suggests that you’ve got given your judgment that one thing is undeniably true primarily based on some data you’ve got. Because of this, it carries a extra formal tone when in comparison with 確実（かくじつ）に and 絶対に, although it will possibly nonetheless be utilized in on a regular basis speech.

Fairly Probably the Conclusion

Whew! I do know that is lots of data to cowl, however don’t fret if you have not memorized all of it but. This web page could be a reference so that you can revisit time and again till you’ve got received all of it down.

Remember the fact 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, word that this text is simply the tip of the iceberg; Japanese has tons of various methods for making statements much less sure or extra imprecise, together with layering a number of the above expressions, utilizing double negatives, or extra. Nonetheless, hopefully this can be a good start line for including extra nuance to your individual Japanese, or serving to you perceive the extent of certainty that somebody is making an attempt to precise. Attempt 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 type of nuance will turn into second nature to you.
Footnotes: