Grammar Info
N5 Lesson 3: 5/13

でしょう
Right?, Probably, Isn't it?

Structure
Tentative
Noun + でしょう
Verb + でしょう
Adjective + でしょう
Details
Part of Speech Auxiliary Verb
Word Type Dependent Word
Register Polite
品詞 助動詞
単語の種類 付属語
使用域 敬語
Information
でしょう is a conjugated form of です, and can also be seen in the contracted form でしょ (more casual). でしょう is regularly translated to ‘right?’, or ‘probably’ in English. In a broader sense it just expresses an assertion about something (like です), that the speaker assumes the listener would probably agree with.
  • イタリア良(よ)かったでしょう
    Italy was nice, right? (Has the nuance of ‘I bet!)
  • 今日(きょう)昼(ひる)ごはんハンバーガーでしょう
    Today's lunch is probably hamburgers, right?
In the above, we can see that, in both examples, the speaker is looking for confirmation that/affirming that the listener agrees with them.
As でしょう is a conjugation of です (the polite form of だ), it usually follows the plain form of words, rather than words using ~ます. However, in very formal situations, or older literature ~ますでしょう may be seen.
  • 彼(かれ)踊(おど)でしょう
    He will probably dance too.
  • 彼(かれ)踊(おど)りますでしょう
    He will probably dance too.
Caution
Despite sounding relatively low confidence, using でしょう implies that the speaker has some form of information that makes them believe that the (A) statement is true.
Slow Male
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これあなた本(ほん)でしょう
This is your book, right?
Play  
いいでしょう
It is probably good.
Play  
今日(きょう)雨(あめ)でしょう
It will probably rain today.
Play  
Books
Genki I 2nd Edition
Page 274
みんなの日本語 I
Page 134 [CH 21]
Tobira
Page 45
みんなの日本語 II
Page 48 [CH 32]
Genki I
Page 234
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 207