タグ: speculation

Japanese Learning (A3 S32): Saying a Speculation; [V-dic / V-nai / I-adj / Na-adj / Noun ] + kamo shiremasen.

Yesterday we learned one of expressions to say speculation, which was “-deshou.” Today we are going to learn another expression to say speculation, “-kamo shiremasen.” When it comes to differences between the two, “-kamoshiremasen” is a little bit less confident and/or less certain than “-deshou”. Sometimes “-kamo shiremasen” is used for the level of suspicion.

At a glance, you may feel the spelling of “-kamo shiremasen” is a little long. How do we understand this new expression? It is rare, but sometimes we would find a textbook of second language that gives us explanations with subdividing expressions into minimum pieces. If I do it for “-kamo shiremasen”, this expression could be subdivided like below;

-kamo : a compound particle with the ending particles “-ka.” and “-mo.”

  -ka. : question, being moved, exclamation

  -mo. : being moved, exclamation

-shire- : an intransitive verb that has to do with the transitive verb “Shiru/Shirimasu”

-masen : the sentence ending of present-negative in polite speech style.

I don’t think a subdivision like above would help a learner understand “-kamo shiremasen.” well. The following is just my personal view, but rather than to subdivide the expression like this into minimum segments, it is better to learn it as a kind of “cluster” when learning a second language. So, it is better to think simply that “-kamo shiremasen” is an expression to say “I guess that” with less certainty and probability than “-deshou.” Learn such nature of “-kamo shiremasen” through the following examples.

[V-dic] + deshou

1. Sato-san wa Shigoto o Yameru kamo shiremasen. (I guess that Sato-san might be quitting her job.)

[V-nai] + deshou

2. Suzuki-san wa Kyou Kaisha ni Konai kamo shiremasen. (I guess that Suzuki-san might not be coming to the company today.)

Note that the group3 verb “Kuru/Kimasu” becomes “konai” for its Nai-form. It’s neither “Kanai(WRONG)”, “Kinai(WRONG)”, nor “Kenai(WRONG)”. “Kunai” is the worst, because “-unai” happens only for I-adjective. “Kuru/Kimasu” is a verb.

[I-adjective] + deshou.

3. Ano Manga wa Tsumaranai kamo shiremasen. (I guess that the Manga might be boring.)

[Na-adjective] + deshou.

Note that the negative “nai” is included as part of the I-adjective “Tsumaranai”.

4. Kono Kasa wa Joubu kamo shiremasen. (I guess that this umbrella might be sturdy.)

[Noun] + deshou.

5. Takahashi-san wa Ashita Yasumi kamo shiremasen. (I guess that Takahashi-san might be taking day off tomorrow.)

Note that “Yasumi” is a noun, “Yasumu” is a verb.

Again, the followings are just about the difference between “deshou” and “kamoshiremasen.”

“deshou” is used broadly as speculation. When the speaker uses “deshou”, confidence and certainty are usually higher than “kamo shiremasen”. “kamo shiremasen” is sometimes used for speculation of the level of suspicions.

Suppose that a radio anchor said one of the followings in a weather forecast program.

(1) Ashita wa Ame deshou.

(2) Ashita wa Ame kamo shiremasen.

Which comment is appropriate for the weather forecast? It must be (1). If a radio anchor said (2), the listeners would feel like the forecast isn’t scientifically made.

There is an adverb that can make the difference clearer between “deshou” and “kamo shiremasen”. That is “Moshikashitara”. Because it is “perhaps” like adverb with less confidence and certainty, “Moshikashitara” is quite often used with “-kamo shiremasen.” as shown below;

1’. Moshikashitara, Sato-san wa Shigoto o Yameru kamo shiremasen. (Perhaps, Sato-san might be quitting her job.)

It is better to remember two words together as a combination “Moshikashitara, —kamo shiremasen.”

On the other, it is not often for a sentence ending “deshou.” to use “Moshikashitara”.

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A3 on Section32 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A2 S32): Saying a Speculation; [V-dic / V-nai / I-adj / Na-adj / Noun ] + deshou.

The section 32 introduces two major expressions to say speculation. In addition, yesterday’s expressions [V-ta] Hou ga Ii, and [V-nai] Hou ga Ii are also regarded as an expression for speculation because it is a way for the speaker to tell what he/she thinks is better.

Today’s expression for speculation uses “-deshou.” This “-deshou.” has already been introduced in A4 S21. There, “-deshou?” is an expression to make a confirmation with ascending intonation. Today’s “-deshou.” is spoken with descending intonation.

[V-dic] + deshou

1. Ashita wa Fujisan ga Mieru deshou. (I guess that we will be able to see Mountain Fuji tomorrow.)

As to the verb “Mieru/Miemasu”, refer to A3 S27.

[V-nai] + deshou.

2. Ashita wa Ame wa Furanai deshou. (I guess that it will not be rainy tomorrow.)

“wa” is used twice in this sentence. Note the difference from the sentence 1.

<sentence 1> [Topic] wa [Subject] ga [ Positive ] deshou.

<sentence 2> [Topic] wa [Subject] wa [Negative] deshou.

One of ways to choose “wa ” or “ga” is as follows;

[Known subject] wa [Important Information].

[Important Information] ga [Known predicate].

A negative information is usually important. If the predicate is negative, “wa” is often used for subject marker.

[I-adjective] + deshou.

3. Ashita wa Atsui deshou. (I guess that it will be hot tomorrow.)

[Na-adjective] + deshou.

4. Ashita wa Yuki-geshiki ga Kirei deshou. (I guess that snow landscape will be beautiful tomorrow.)

Yuki-geshiki is a compound word formed from Yuki (snow) and Keshiki(view, scenery). And be careful about “Kirei” which is not an I-adjective but a Na-adjective.

[Noun] + deshou.

5. Ashita wa Hare deshou. (I guess that tomorrow is a fine day.)

Note that “Hare” is a noun. For some verbs, Masu-form without “masu” can be a noun. In this case, the noun “Hare” comes from the verb “Hareru/Haremasu” whose “Masu-form without masu” is “Hare”. Likewise, “Kumori” is a noun that comes from “Masu-form without masu” of the verb “Kumoru/Kumorimasu”.

6. Ashita wa Kumori deshou. ; Kumori is a noun.

6’. Ashita wa Kumoru deshou. ; Kumoru is a verb.

Today’s “-deshou.” is broadly used for speculations. We will learn tomorrow another expression for speculation, which is “-kamo Shiremasen.” In comparison with “-kamo Shiremasen.”, “-deshou.” has slightly higher level of confidence and/or certainty than “-kamo Shiremasen.”

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A2 on Section32 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese learning (A2 S21): Expressing your Opinion uses the Same Construction as saying your Speculation; Watashi wa ([Subject]+[Predicate]) to Omoimasu.

We have recently learned the following construction;

1. Watashi wa Mousugu Ame ga Furu to Omoimasu. (I think it’s going to rain soon.)

Since the verb “Omou/Omoimasu” is usually translated to “think”, the above sentence 1 seems to express what you are thinking. But to be more exact, this sentence has a function to say your speculation. Actually, today’s sentence construction is identical to the sentence 1.

2. Watashi wa Risaikuru wa Chikyuu o Mamoru to Omoimasu. (I think Recycling saves our planet.)

Although the example 2 also sounds like a speculation, you can regard 2 as an opinion of the speaker. Let us look at some examples that are expressing opinions using “to Omoimasu”.

3. [V-dic] + to Omoimasu.

Watashi wa Kasa wa Kyou Yaku ni Tatsu to Omoimasu. (I think an umbrella will be useful today.)

– Yaku ni Tatsu: Gr1-T verb; can be useful

4. [V-nakereba naranai] + to Omoimasu.

Watashi wa Kodomo wa Tetsudai o Shinakereba naranai to Omoimasu. (I think kids should help with household chores)

– Nakereba naranai/Nakereba narimasen => Refer to A3 S17

5. [I-adj] + to Omoimasu.

Watashi wa Nihongo wa Muzukashii to Omoimasu. (I think Japanese is difficult.)

6. [Na-adj] + to Omoimasu.

Watashi wa Kuruma wa Benrida to Omoimasu. (I think a car is useful.)

7. [Noun] da + to Omoimasu.

Watashi wa Satou-san no Hanashi wa Hontou da to Omoimasu. (I think what we are talking about Sato-san is real.)

Now we have learned that “to Omoimasu.” can express two things; Speculation and Opinion. They are shown in A1 and A2, respectively. However, I think “to Omoimasu” has a common function to both A1 and A2. That is to avoid making definitive statements. Using “to Omoimasu”, you can make your speculation or opinion more moderate. For example, no one can say we are going to have rain tomorrow for 100 percent sure. Rather than to say “Ashita Ame ga Furimasu”, it is better to say “Ashita Ame ga Furu to Omoimasu”. Another example is; you think recycling is good for our earth, but someone may think recycling doesn’t facilitate new production. If you say “Risaikuru wa Chikyuu o Mamorimasu”, such people may yell at you. If you say “Risaikuru wa Chikyuu o Mamoru to Omoimasu”, your opinion would sound more moderate.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A2 on Section21 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”