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Michael
Desu and deshoo
I just read that using "deshoo" in place of "desu" is more polite (because it expresses uncertainty). Is this true? And if it is true is it the same thing with "masu" and "mashoo"?
ex.
Kore wa yoi pan desu ka?
Kore wa yoi pan deshoo ka?
Jun 28, 2013 5:56 PM
Answers · 4
1
Yes, it is true.
Expressing uncertainty or speculation by ましょう is getting less and less common those days.
Some old people still use it that way even today, like:
明日は雨が降りましょうか?(Will be rain tomorrow?)
However, most people use でしょう instead of ましょう to mean that:
明日は雨が降るでしょうか?(Will be rain tomorrow?)
Today, ましょう is usually used to express intention or suggestion.
わたしが行きましょう (I will go)
わたしが行きましょうか (Shall I go?)
いっしょに行きましょう (Let us go)
June 28, 2013
1
I think there isn't a particular difference between those two expressions; however, desuka is more grammatically correct whereas deshooka is more conversational expression.
June 28, 2013
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Michael
Language Skills
Chinese (Mandarin), Chinese (Cantonese), English, Japanese
Learning Language
Chinese (Mandarin), Chinese (Cantonese), Japanese
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