Darou vs Deshou in Japanese: Grammar & Examples Inside

Want to know how to use darou in Japanese?

And what the difference is between darou and deshou?

Well, this guide solves it all.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Darou Explained

Darou (だろう) is used at the ends of sentences to show uncertainty or probability.

Japanese people also use it to ask for agreement from the other person, like “right?” in English.

HOWEVER…

Darou is extremely casual.

You’re probably here because you heard it in anime but most people don’t talk like this on an everyday basis.

Darou should ONLY be used with those close to you. Like friends and family.

In terms of style, darou is associated with a more masculine way of speaking, so it is not as common for women to use it.

Here are some key ways to use darou:

Making Assumptions: For example, if you heard that it might rain, you might say 雨が降るだろう。 (Ame ga furu darou) which means “It will probably rain”.
Making Predictions: If you think your new store will profit, you can say 儲かるだろう (Moukaru darou), meaning “It will likely profit.”
Expressing Uncertainty: For example, if you want to say, “I’m not sure,” you could say どうだろう。 (Dou darou).
Asking for Confirmation: Darou can also act as a question where you seek agreement from the other person. For example, if you wanted to say “Isn’t this fun?” you could say 楽しいだろう (tanoshii darou). You can also use it in agreement by itself to mean “Right?”.

You can combine darou with nouns, adjectives, and verbs.

It is also possible to create a negative version of each one.

Here are some darou examples:

彼は初心者だろう。
- Kare wa shoshinsha darou.
- He’s likely a beginner.
彼は初心者じゃないだろう。
- Kare wa shoshinsha janai darou.
- He’s likely not a beginner.
ご飯は美味しいだろう。
- Gohan wa oishii darou.
- The food is likely delicious.
ご飯は美味しくないだろう。
- Gohan wa oishiku nai darou.
- The food is likely not delicious.
雪が降るだろう。
- Yuki ga furu darou.
- It is likely to snow.
雪が降らないだろう。
- Yuki ga furanai darou.
- It is unlikely to snow.

Part 2: Darou vs. Deshou

Both darou and deshou mean the same thing, and you can use them interchangeably.

However, deshou is more polite and is softer than darou.

Depending on who you are talking with, you might consider using deshou instead.

Here is a breakdown of when to use darou vs. deshou.

Darou

Darou is more casual and has a more masculine tone. It should only be used with those of the same or lower social status and hierarchy as you. For example, you should not use it with your boss.

難しいだろう?
- Muzukashii darou?
- Isn’t this hard?

Deshou

Deshou has a more polite tone than darou. You can use it in polite situations if you’re unsure of something. To make it polite, you should add particles like ka or ne to make it even more courteous.

簡単でしょう?
- Kantan deshou?
- Isn’t it easy?

Japanese Grammar with Darou or Deshou

In some grammar patterns, darou or deshou are used inside Japanese sentences to mean specific things.

You can use these grammar forms in various situations to express differences.

1. Conditional (IF) Statements

You’ll sometimes find darou or deshou in conditional statements.

Since they show uncertainty, they fit nicely into a hypothetical situation.

ご飯を食べないとお腹が空くだろう。
- Gohan o tabenai to onaka ga suku darou.
- If I don’t eat, I’ll likely get hungry.

2. Softening a phrase

Another way you will see darou or deshou is with an ending of ね (ne). This ending tends to soften the phrase and make it more polite.

In general, in Japanese, the more direct you are, the more rude it can seem to others. Adding extra particles at the end can make it a bit softer.

大変でしょうね。
- Taihen deshou ne.
- It must be hard.

3. Usage in Questions

You can use darou or deshou to form questions. In this case, it can appear by itself or as part of a more significant sentence.

だろう？
- Darou?
- Right?
雨が降るだろうか？
- Ame ga furu darouka?
- I wonder if it will rain tomorrow?

If you’re trying to be polite, you should avoid using darou or deshou by itself without the end particles. Seeking agreement from the other person can seem rude, depending on the context.

For example, if you’ve been working on a complex project with your boss, you shouldn’t say the following phrase:

難しいだろう？
- Muzukashii darou?
- Isn’t it difficult?

This implies that this project is too difficult for your boss, which makes it sound extremely rude. It also lacks honorifics, which could also be offensive.

4. Negative Forms

You can also precede darou or deshou with nai to indicate that something is likely untrue.

それはないだろう。
- Sore wa nai darou.
- That likely isn’t true.
そんなことはないでしょう。
- Sonna koto wa nai deshou.
- That can’t be true.

5. Uncertainty

You can also express uncertainty using darou or deshou, which can mean something like “I’m not sure” or a filler phrase similar to “hmm” when thinking about what the other person said.

どうでしょう。
- Dou deshou.
- I’m not sure.
どうだろう。
- Dou darou.
- I’m not sure.

6. Future Predictions

It is also possible to make future predictions using darou or deshou. In this case, you can make assumptions about something you’ll see or do in the future.

宝くじに当たるだろう。
- Takara kuji ni ataru darou.
- I’ll likely win the lottery.
いつか日本語を覚えるでしょう。
- Itsuka nihongo o oboeru deshou.
- I’ll someday learn Japanese.