Meaning
だろう is the plain form of でしょう, expressing uncertainty or conjecture. When combined with と思う, it conveys your tentative thoughts or predictions to others in a softened manner. This pattern allows you to share speculation without sounding too assertive, making it useful for expressing assumptions, expectations, or conjectures based on available information.
Formation
| Part of speech | Formation |
|---|---|
| 动词普通形 | だろうと思う |
| な形容词 | だろうと思う |
| 名词 | だろうと思う |
Examples
-
この映画は退屈だろうと思ったが、意外と面白かった。
I thought this movie would probably be boring, but it was surprisingly interesting. -
明日は会社が休みなので、歯医者に行けるだろうと思います。
Since the company is closed tomorrow, I think I'll probably be able to go to the dentist. -
彼女のために服を買った。気に入るだろうと思った。
I bought clothes for my girlfriend. I thought she would probably like them.
Summary
- Form: verb plain form + だろうと思う; na-adjective + だろうと思う; noun + だろうと思う
- Used to express tentative guesses, predictions, or expectations in a polite, indirect manner
- Colloquial variants: の/なの can be used before だろうと思う, or の can be replaced with ん for a more casual tone