〜だろ (daro) vs 〜でしょう (deshou)
What's the Difference?
Quick Answer
Use 〜だろ with friends or in casual settings, and 〜でしょう for polite or formal situations. This distinction is key to sounding natural in Japanese. Choose based on the level of formality and your relationship with the listener.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | 〜だろ (daro) | 〜でしょう (deshou) |
|---|---|---|
| JLPT | N4 | N4 |
| Formality | casual | polite |
| Formality | Casual, often used with friends or in informal settings | Polite, used in formal situations or with people you don't know well |
| Assumption | Assumes the listener agrees, with a masculine tone | Assumes the listener agrees, with a polite tone |
| Usage | Commonly used by men in casual conversations | Can be used by both men and women in polite conversations |
〜だろ (daro)
JLPT: N4 | Formality: casual
- Formality: Casual, often used with friends or in informal settings
- Assumption: Assumes the listener agrees, with a masculine tone
- Usage: Commonly used by men in casual conversations
〜でしょう (deshou)
JLPT: N4 | Formality: polite
- Formality: Polite, used in formal situations or with people you don't know well
- Assumption: Assumes the listener agrees, with a polite tone
- Usage: Can be used by both men and women in polite conversations
Example Sentences
〜だろ (daro)
明日は雨だろ
ashita wa ame daro
It's going to rain tomorrow, isn't it?
彼は来ないだろ
kare wa konai daro
He's not coming, is he?
もう夜だろ
mou yoru daro
It's already night, isn't it?
〜でしょう (deshou)
先生は来られるでしょう
sensei wa korareru deshou
The teacher will come, won't they?
明日は晴れるでしょう
ashita wa hareru deshou
It will be sunny tomorrow, won't it?
彼は成功するでしょう
kare wa seikou suru deshou
He will succeed, won't he?
Common Mistakes
- ⚠ Using 〜だろ in formal situations or with people you don't know well, which can come across as rude.
- ⚠ Using 〜でしょう in very casual settings with close friends, which can sound overly polite or even insincere.
- ⚠ Not considering the gender and formality implications of 〜だろ and 〜でしょう in different contexts.
Memory Tip
💡 Remember, 〜だろ is like saying 'right?' to a friend, while 〜でしょう is like saying 'don't you think?' to someone you want to show respect to.
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