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    Dictionary
    1. Dictionary
    2. Grammar
    3. 〜ん (推量)

    〜ん (推量)

    〜ん (推量)

    This word shows you are guessing something. It means 'probably' or 'I suppose'. It is a very old or formal way to say it.

    KMT8FormalStandardClassical InflectionMixedOlder SpeakersClassicalClassical Conjecture And VolitionGrammar

    Verb [dictionary form] + んPrimary

    This word shows you are guessing something. It means 'probably' or 'I suppose'. It is a very old or formal way to say it.

    神かみのみぞ知しる事こともあらん。

    There are probably things that only God knows.

    FormalNon PastAffirmativeSentence EndingConjecturalReligion & Philosophy
    いずれ真しん実じつが明あきらかにならん日ひが来くるだろう。

    A day will probably come when the truth will be revealed.

    FormalNon PastAffirmativePrenominalConjecturalLiterature
    彼かれが来こんと思おもっていたが、結けっ局きょく来こなかった。

    I thought he would probably come, but in the end he didn't.

    NeutralPastAffirmativeMid SentenceConjecturalDaily Life
    そんなことはあらん。

    That can't be true. / Such a thing is probably not possible.

    FormalNon PastNegativeSentence EndingConjecturalCore Concepts
    君きみの言いわんとすることは、よく分わかる。

    I understand what you are trying to say.

    NeutralNon PastAffirmativePrenominalConjecturalEmotions & PsychologyFamily & Relationships

    Modern Japanese uses "darou" or "deshou" for guessing. "~n" is an old way to guess. It sounds very formal. It is like an old poem. It is a shorter way to say "~mu".

    Don't use this when you speak modern Japanese. It is very old-fashioned. The 'n' sound comes from an older verb form. It is not used in new sentences. You might see it in old books. You might hear it in old sayings.

    Use this when you want to sound very old-fashioned or important. It is like speaking from a history book. You can use it for proverbs or formal speeches.

    Often confused with(1)

    〜ん (意志)

    This shows you really want to do something. It means "I will" or "I shall." It sounds very old-fashioned or dramatic.

    〜だろう

    This is how you say you are guessing something. It means 'probably' or 'I think so'. You are not 100% sure.

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    Related concepts for this entry

    Variants

    • 〜む (推量)

    often_confused_with

    • 〜ん (意志)

    prerequisite

    • 〜だろう
    • 〜まじ

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