Introduction
In Japanese, asking questions politely is essential. One way to do this is by using でしょうか (deshouka). This helps you ask questions gently and respectfully.
What it Means
でしょうか (deshouka) means “Would it be…?” or “Do you think…?”. It makes your questions sound more polite and less direct.
Examples
あした、雨が降るでしょうか。(Ashita, ame ga furu deshouka.) Would it rain tomorrow?
降ると思います。(Furu to omoimasu.) I think it will.
来週は暑いでしょうか。(Raishuu wa atsui deshouka.) Would you say that it will be hot next week?
トマトは果物でしょうか。(Tomato wa kudamono deshouka.) Is a tomato a fruit?
これ、もう話したでしょうか。(Kore, mou hanashita deshouka.) Have I told you about this already?
Note
You can also use でしょう (deshou) to make guesses. For example, adding たぶん (tabun) at the beginning signals that it is a guess.
- たぶんあしたは暑くないでしょう。(Tabun ashita wa atsuku nai deshou.) I bet it will not be hot tomorrow.
In casual conversations, でしょう (deshou) can be used to confirm something you believe is true, often pronounced as でしょ (desho) with a question intonation.
- マリア、日本語わかるでしょ？これ、読んで。(Maria, nihongo wakaru desho? Kore, yonde.) Maria, you understand Japanese, right? Can you read this for me?
Conclusion
Using でしょうか (deshouka) is a great way to ask questions politely and tentatively in Japanese. It shows that you respect the other person’s knowledge and avoids making them feel uncomfortable.
