N5132/133

かろう

Noun/verb/adj base + かろうi-adjective stem + かろうna-adjective + かろう

Meanings

  • Probably
  • Right? (archaic/ literary usage)

About this pattern

Explanation

かろう is an old-fashioned, literary conjectural auxiliary that means 'probably' or 'I suppose so,' similar in meaning to だろう but used in classical Japanese or in formal/literary contexts. It is not common in everyday modern speech. It attaches to the plain form of verbs and adjectives (and sometimes to na-adjectives in the sense of the predicative form). The nuance is more tentative, contemplative, or like a guess in narration rather than a firm assertion. Typical contexts include historical writing, fiction set in classical periods, or stylistic usage to evoke antiquity.

Learn in context

Example sentences

彼は来るかろう。

He will probably come.

この問題は難しいかろう。

This problem is probably difficult.

天気は晴れるかろう。

The weather will probably clear up.

彼女は忙しいかろう。

She is probably busy.