だろう

Submitted by admin on Thu, 07/31/2008 - 17:21
だろう
darou
Meaning: perhaps, maybe, I wonder
JLPT Level: 3
Examples

何だろう？
nan darou?
what-?
What's this?　What could this be?

この冬は寒くなるだろう。
kono fuyu wa samuku naru darou.
this-winter-(topic particle)-cold-become-I wonder
I wonder if it will be cold this winter.

Comments

Not sure but perhaps.

でしょう deshou is a more polite form.

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何だろう？

Submitted by Hektor6766 on Wed, 02/24/2010 - 08:27.

darou can be stronger, though always a speculation, a possibility/probability, as in your example. A pithy prediction I came across:

「円高がこのままでいくと、日本は大不況になるだろう。」

"The yen remaining strong as it is, Japan could fall into a severe recession."

Hope this helps.

Pianogirl123's picture

何だろう?

Submitted by Pianogirl123 on Tue, 01/12/2010 - 04:28.

I thought だろう　and でしょう　meant the speaker is sure of something. 明日ゆきが降るでしょう/It will probably snow tomorrow.

.. right?

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