Lesson 16: Opinions & Possibilities (と思う・かも・だろう)

Expressing Opinions with 〜と思います

In Japanese, 〜と思おもいます is used to express personal opinions or thoughts in a polite manner. This construction attaches to the plain form of verbs, adjectives, or nouns, softening your statement by implying that it is simply your opinion.

Formation

Plain form of verb/adjective/noun + と思います

Expressing Opinions with と思います

Verb

行いく → 行いくと思おもいます
I go → I think I will go

い-Adjective

面白おもしろい → 面白おもしろいと思おもいます
Interesting → I think it is interesting

な-Adjective

簡単かんたんだ → 簡単かんたんだと思おもいます
Simple → I think it is simple

Noun

先生せんせいだ → 先生せんせいだと思おもいます
Is a teacher → I think he/she is a teacher

Examples in Context

Negative Opinions

To express a negative opinion, use the negative plain form before と思います:

Casual Form: 〜と思う

In casual speech, many people use
〜と思おもう
instead of
〜と思おもいます:

Cultural Insight:
Japanese conversations frequently employ
〜と思おもいます
as a softer way to present opinions. This indirect approach acknowledges subjectivity and helps maintain harmony. It's considered more polite than making direct assertions, as it shows you recognize that others may have different views.

Expressing Possibility with ～かもしれない

The structure ～かもしれない is used to indicate uncertainty or possibility—much like "might," "maybe," or "could be" in English. It expresses a medium level of certainty - it's not definite, but there's a reasonable chance.

Formation

Plain form of verb/adjective/noun + かもしれない (casual) / かもしれません (polite)

Verb

雨あめが降ふる → 雨あめが降ふるかもしれない
It rains → It might rain

い-Adjective

難むずかしい → 難むずかしいかもしれない
Difficult → It might be difficult

な-Adjective

元気げんきだ → 元気げんきだかもしれない
Healthy → They might be healthy

Noun

先生せんせいだ → 先生せんせいだかもしれない
Is a teacher → They might be a teacher

Examples in Context

Negative Possibility

To express that something might not happen, use the negative plain form:

Adding Extra Nuance with Adverbs

You can combine かもしれない with adverbs to add nuance:

Usage Tip:
かもしれない is often preceded by expressions like
多分たぶん
(probably)
or
もしかしたら
(perhaps) to further highlight uncertainty.

Cultural Note:
Japanese speakers often prefer expressions of uncertainty like かもしれない rather than making definitive statements, especially when discussing future events or situations where they don't have complete information. This reflects a cultural preference for humility and avoiding overconfidence.

Expressing Probability with ～だろう/～でしょう

～だろう (casual) and ～でしょう (polite) express probability or likelihood with more certainty than かもしれない, similar to "probably" or "I suppose" in English.

Formation

Plain form of verb/adjective/noun + だろう (casual) / でしょう (polite)

Verb

行いく → 行いくだろう / 行いくでしょう
Go → Will probably go

い-Adjective

寒さむい → 寒さむいだろう / 寒さむいでしょう
Cold → Will probably be cold

な-Adjective

元気げんきだ → 元気げんきだろう / 元気げんきでしょう
Healthy → Will probably be healthy

Noun

先生せんせいだ → 先生せんせいだろう / 先生せんせいでしょう
Is a teacher → Is probably a teacher

Examples in Context

Seeking Confirmation with ～でしょう？

でしょう with a rising intonation can be used to seek confirmation:

Comparing Levels of Certainty

Cultural Note:
でしょう is versatile and can express varying degrees of certainty depending on context. It's often used in weather forecasts, predictions about future events, and in situations where the speaker has strong evidence but not absolute certainty. In formal writing like academic papers or news articles, でしょう is frequently used to present likely conclusions.

Explaining Reasons with 〜んです / 〜のです

To explain reasons or provide background information, Japanese uses 〜んです in casual spoken language and 〜のです in formal or written contexts. This structure clarifies your statements and gently explains why something is the case.

Formation

• Verb (plain form) + んです / のです
• い形容詞いけいようし + んです / のです
• な形容詞なけいようし or noun + な + んです / のです

Present Verb

行いく → 行いくんです / 行いくのです
Go → The thing is, I'm going

Past Verb

行いった → 行いったんです / 行いったのです
Went → The thing is, I went

Present い-Adjective

高たかい → 高たかいんです / 高たかいのです
Expensive → The thing is, it's expensive

Present な-Adjective

元気げんきだ → 元気げんきなんです / 元気げんきなのです
Healthy → The thing is, they're healthy

Noun

学生がくせいだ → 学生がくせいなんです / 学生がくせいなのです
Is a student → The thing is, they're a student

Common Uses

1. Asking for explanations

2. Providing explanations or reasons

3. Adding background information

4. Expressing discovery or realization

Cultural Insight:
This explanatory form is often used to soften statements and provide context. It can also be used to confirm information, as in
"日本人にほんじんなんですか？"
meaning
"(Oh,) you're Japanese?"
This pattern helps create cohesion in conversation by connecting your statements to the context or to what was previously discussed, making Japanese dialogue feel more connected and thoughtful.

Combining Opinion and Explanation Patterns

Japanese allows you to combine different opinion and explanation patterns for more nuanced expression. These combinations help you articulate complex thoughts with appropriate levels of certainty, politeness, and context.

Common Combinations

1. 〜と思おもうんです / 〜と思おもうのです

Explaining the reason for your opinion or belief:

2. 〜かもしれないと思おもいます

Expressing an opinion about a possibility:

3.〜だろうと思おもいます

Stating your opinion about a probability:

4. 〜かもしれないんです

Explaining about a possibility:

Practical Usage:
These combinations are extremely useful in daily conversation, allowing for precise communication of complex thoughts. For example, in a business setting,
難むずかしいかもしれないと思おもいます
(I think it might be difficult) sounds more measured and thoughtful than a simple
難むずかしいです
(It's difficult).

Opinions and Possibility in Conversations

Let's examine how these patterns work together in natural conversations, highlighting how Japanese speakers express their thoughts with appropriate nuance, politeness, and context.

Dialogue: Discussing Weekend Plans

A: 週末しゅうまつ、何なにをしますか？
(Shūmatsu, nani o shimasu ka?)
"What are you doing this weekend?"

B: 天気てんきが良よければ、公園こうえんに行いこうと思おもいます。
(Tenki ga yokereba, kōen ni ikō to omoimasu.)
"If the weather is good, I think I'll go to the park."

A: 天気予報てんきよほうによると、雨あめが降ふるかもしれませんよ。
(Tenki yohō ni yoru to, ame ga furu kamoshiremasen yo.)
"According to the weather forecast, it might rain."

B: そうですか。雨あめが降ふるなら、
美術館びじゅつかんに行いくかもしれません。
(Sō desu ka. Ame ga furu nara, bijutsukan ni iku kamoshiremasen.)
"Is that so? If it rains, I might go to the museum."

A: 新あたらしい展示てんじがあるんですよ。
面白おもしろいと思おもいますよ。
(Atarashii tenji ga arun desu yo. Omoshiroi to omoimasu yo.)
"There's a new exhibition. I think it's interesting."

B: そうなんですか。では、美術館びじゅつかんに行いくことにします。
一緒いっしょに行いきませんか？
(Sō nan desu ka. Dewa, bijutsukan ni iku koto ni shimasu. Issho ni ikimasen ka?)
"Is that so? Then, I'll go to the museum. Would you like to go together?"

A: はい、行いきましょう。楽たのしいでしょうね。
(Hai, ikimashō. Tanoshii deshō ne.)
"Yes, let's go. It will probably be fun."

Dialogue: Discussing a Problem at Work

A: 山田やまださんはどうして会議かいぎに来こなかったんですか？
(Yamada-san wa dōshite kaigi ni konakattan desu ka?)
"Why didn't Mr. Yamada come to the meeting?"

B: 体調たいちょうが悪わるいんだと思おもいます。
昨日きのうから咳せきをしていました。
(Taichō ga waruin da to omoimasu. Kinō kara seki o shite imashita.)
"I think he's not feeling well. He's been coughing since yesterday."

A: そうですか。重おもい風邪かぜかもしれませんね。
(Sō desu ka. Omoi kaze kamoshiremasen ne.)
"I see. It might be a bad cold."

B: 明日あしたも来こないかもしれないんです。
大事だいじなプロジェクトがあるので、心配しんぱいなんです。
(Ashita mo konai kamoshirenain desu. Daiji na purojekuto ga aru node, shinpai nan desu.)
"He might not come tomorrow either. I'm worried because we have an important project."

A: 私わたしたちで何なにとかできるでしょう。
心配しんぱいしないでください。
(Watashitachi de nantoka dekiru deshō. Shinpai shinaide kudasai.)
"I think we can manage somehow. Please don't worry."

Dialogue: Giving Opinions About a Restaurant

A: この店みせのラーメンは美味おいしいと思おもいますか？
(Kono mise no rāmen wa oishii to omoimasu ka?)
"Do you think the ramen at this restaurant is delicious?"

B: はい、とても美味おいしいと思おもいます。
特とくにスープが好すきなんです。
(Hai, totemo oishii to omoimasu. Toku ni sūpu ga suki nan desu.)
"Yes, I think it's very delicious. I especially like the soup."

A: そうですか。少すこし塩辛しおからいかもしれないと思おもいましたが。
(Sō desu ka. Sukoshi shiokarai kamoshirenai to omoimashita ga.)
"Is that so? I thought it might be a bit too salty."

B: 人ひとによって好このみが違ちがうんですね。
次つぎは醤油しょうゆラーメンが良よいかもしれませんよ。塩辛しおからくないと思おもいます。
(Hito ni yotte konomi ga chigaun desu ne. Tsugi wa shōyu rāmen ga yoi kamoshiremasen yo. Shiokaraku nai to omoimasu.)
"People have different tastes, don't they? Next time, soy sauce ramen might be good. I don't think it's salty."

Cultural Note:
In Japanese conversation, opinions are often expressed tentatively out of politeness. Phrases like
と思おもいます
and
かもしれません
allow speakers to express their views without sounding too assertive. The explanatory form んです helps provide context and maintain the flow of conversation. These patterns work together to create a harmonious exchange of ideas while respecting different perspectives.

Practical Applications and Additional Examples

Let's explore more practical examples of how these opinion and possibility expressions are used in different contexts.

In Email Communication

In Academic Discussions

In Daily Conversation

In Business Settings

Comparing Similar Expressions

雨あめが降ふると思おもいます
I think it will rain
Medium certainty - personal opinion

雨あめが降ふるかもしれない
It might rain
Low-Medium certainty - possibility

雨あめが降ふるでしょう
It will probably rain
Medium-High certainty - probability

雨あめが降ふるんです
It's going to rain (explanation)
High certainty - stating a fact with context/explanation

Practical Usage Tip:
When deciding which expression to use, consider:
How certain you are about the information
Whether you're expressing a personal opinion or a general probability
Whether you're providing background information or context
The level of politeness appropriate for the situation