～（ん）でしょう

Tomii515 · 25 Nov 2009

I know that when you use "deshou/darou", it is generally like "probably" (as well as like "..., right?" when in a question).
I've seen it with the "n desu" form before, and I'm not sure what that does, and also where "probably" wouldn't seem to fit. I know I shouldn't be trying to directly trying to but it into English, so thats why im asking when i should know when and when not to use it, and if it can convey any other meanings other than "probably"?
よろしくお願いします

Damicci · 26 Nov 2009

If you mean:

なぜこの漢字「かんじ」を読んでるんでしょうか？

I think it conveys the same meaning but more like a "I wonder...." feeling maybe similar to 「かな」.

epigene · 26 Nov 2009

As far as "the most common usage" is concerned (i.e., I can't think of other uses offhand ),

んでしょう is the casual form of のでしょう

Google results on んでしょう

Both suggest probability in case of a declarative sentence as you've pointed out, Tomii. In question form, the speaker is asking whether his/her suggestion is correct.

Damicci · 26 Nov 2009

Ok and delete my comment as I was wrong as usual. First instinct was maybe softner like no deshou.

epigene · 26 Nov 2009

Damicci said:
Ok and delete my comment as I was wrong as usual. First instinct was maybe softner like no deshou.

Oh, no, Damicci. What you posted was correct!

The "I wonder" feeling is exactly what it is when it is used in a question.

I thought Tomii's question was over his puzzlement over the difference between "n-deshou" and just plain "deshou/darou."

This can be elaborated into a longer explanation that I hope other veteran members will contribute.

Toritoribe · 27 Nov 2009

Thread regarding "explanatory の/ん."
The "redundant" "n" before "da" and "desu" | Japan Forum

の/んでしょう is used for an explanation of the reason as same as の/んです.

急に暗くなりましたね。
It's suddenly getting dark.
雨が降るんでしょう。
I think (it's because) it's going to rain.

Also, の/んでしょう sometimes conveys the speaker's doubt as a sarcastic usage.

彼が言うからには、雨が降るんでしょう。
It's going to rain, if he said so.(I doubt it, though.)

彼が言うからには、雨が降るんです doesn't have this nuance, and 雨が降るでしょう is rarely used for the case.

Putrefaction · 27 Nov 2009

彼が言うからには、雨が降るんでしょう。
It's going to rain, if he said so.(I doubt it, though.)

Is this based on personal interpretation? What I got from that message was,
"He said that it'll probably rain."

Or perhaps I'm trying to make the message into this:
彼が言うからによると、雨が降るんでしょう。

But I'm rusty and haven't practiced in forever.

Toritoribe · 27 Nov 2009

からには is a structure to mean "if ~ at all/as long as."

始めるからには終わらせなければならない
If you start it at all, you must finish it.

Tomii515 · 28 Nov 2009

Thanks everyone!
I guess I was just confused with the "ndeshou" because... Well, I'm not really sure. I mena, I was aware that it was from the "ndesu" form, just with deshou... Hmm, I dont know, I guess I wasn't thinking, haha.

And to clear things up, my real question was basically asking if "~deshou" can give the feeling of anything else besides something that is probable. I'm pretty sure I've seen it in where I can't understand why it's used, so I was just wondering if there's any other feeling "deshou" gives off.

But thanks again to everyone who helped!

～（ん）でしょう

Tomii515

やった～！

Damicci

先輩

epigene

相変わらず不束者です

Damicci

先輩

epigene

相変わらず不束者です

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Putrefaction

不幸中の幸い. . . がない.

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Tomii515

やった～！

Similar threads