past and nonpast, (formal and plain), and there are three levels in the negative (formal, informal, and Goldilocks).
7. Deshoo and Deshoo?
The addition of deshoo to an adjective in either the affirmative or negative, past or non-past, can have one of two meanings. When it is said with a rising intonation deshoo? it carries the meaning of isn’t it? aren’t they? aren’t you? etc. This deshoo? corresponds roughly to desu ne, although deshoo? is somewhat less certain than desu ne. Thus, samui deshoo? and samui desu ne both mean, it’s cold, isn’t it?
When deshoo is said with a lowering intonation, it takes on the meaning of probably, must be, must not be, must have been, or must not have been, depending on the tense of the adjective. This deshoo is often used by the Japanese when speaking of the states of being and the emotions of others. For example, the Japanese would never point to someone and say, “Samui desu” (she feels cold). They would rather say, Samui deshoo (she probably feels cold, or she must be cold), as they cannot state with certainty the condition of another person.
The difference in intonation is best studied orally. Our purpose here is to understand its usage and practice its formation.
For both usages, the word deshoo is added to the plain form of the adjective in the nonpast affirmative and negative, and in the past affirmative and negative. Deshoo requires that a plain form precede it. However, the resulting sentence is considered formal.
| Example: | Oishii deshoo. | = | It probably tastes good. |
| Oishiku nai deshoo? | = | It doesn’t taste good, does it? | |
| Oishikatta deshoo? | = | It was good, wasn’t it? | |
| Oishiku nakatta deshoo. | = | It must not have tasted good. |
In this exercise, read the description of the situation and respond with an appropriate form of oishii and either deshoo or deshoo? Think carefully about the tense of your sentences.
1. You’ve brought your friend to your favorite Tex-Mex restaurant. Your friend wants to order a new dish on the menu, guacamole sushi. You discourage him by saying:
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2. The two of you select the specialty tacos. Your food arrives and as you eat, you say to your friend:
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3. You look at the dessert menu and your friend asks how the caramel flan is. You say you’ve never tried it, but:
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4. Your meal was superb. Your friend has just licked the last of the caramel flan off his plate. You say:
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5. Your friend recounts his last experience with a Tex-Mex meal at the Grungy Gerry’s Taco Palace. You say:
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Read these sentences aloud with the proper intonaton and then explain what they mean. An asterisk next to an adjective means that you will find the meaning in the Other Adjectives section of this text.
1. Kyoo wa suzushii deshoo?
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2. Ashita mo suzushii deshoo.
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3. Ano eiga wa omoshiroku nakatta deshoo?
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4. Nihon wa utsukushii deshoo.
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5. Nihongo wa muzukashiku nai deshoo?
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6. Kono mizu wa tsumetai deshoo?
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7. Tookyoo wa mushiatsukatta* deshoo.
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8. Sugoi* deshoo?!
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9. Ima wa isogashiku nai deshoo.
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10. Hikooki wa hayai deshoo?
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Using the adjective indicated, write the Japanese equivalent of the following sentences. As you write, vocalize your answers with the proper intonation. Also keep in mind that subject pronouns such as it, they, he, etc. are usually not used in Japanese.
Be careful with your tenses! Must have been and must not have been indicate situations in the past.
| 1. | yasashiiIt’s probably easy. _____________________It must have been easy. _____________________It wasn’t easy, was it? _____________________ |
| 2. | mushiatsuiIt must be hot & humid. _____________________It was hot & humid, wasn’t it? _____________________It probably isn’t hot & humid. _____________________ |
| 3. | omoshiroiIt isn’t interesting, is it? _____________________It’s probably not interesting. _____________________It must be interesting. _____________________ |
| 4. | mazushiiThey’re probably poor. _____________________They’re poor, aren’t they? _____________________They’re not poor, are they? _____________________ |
| 5. | kibishiiShe was strict, wasn’t she? _____________________She’s probably not strict. _____________________She’s strict, isn’t she? _____________________ |
| 6. | ureshiiShe must be happy. _____________________She’s probably not happy. _____________________She must have been happy. _____________________ |
| 7. | sabishiiHe must be lonely. _____________________He must have been lonely. _____________________He probably wasn’t lonely. _____________________ |
| 8. | shiroiIt’s white, isn’t it? _____________________It wasn’t white, was it? _____________________It must have been white. _____________________ |
Read these situations. Select an appropriate adjective and add either deshoo or deshoo? Again, be careful of the tense you use. Refer to the Other Adjectives list if you need help.
1. You heard that Taroo has a new girlfriend. You’re with him when he gets a perfumed letter from her. He is all smiles. You say to him:
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2. The organic chemistry course at your university has a reputation for being tough. When you are asked by a freshman about the rigor of the professors, you say:
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3. You and your friend are monster movie aficionados. After seeing the latest box office hit in this genre, you say to her:
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4. You bump into a friend on his way to get a flu shot. You allay his fears about the pain of the injection by saying:
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