Grammar Info

N1 Lesson 8: 8/19

さぞYou must be very, How … you must be, I dare to say, I am sure or certain that you must be very

sometimes used with ことと思う、ことと存じる、に間違いない

Structure

さぞ + (かし)+ Phrase + (こと)+ だろう

Details

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    Formal

  • Rare Kanji

About さぞ

さぞ is a fairly formal adverb in Japanese that is used emphatically to highlight that the following statement is something that the speaker understands to be true. This is often in relation to the feelings or situation of another. Common translations include 'you must be very (A)', 'how (A) you must be', or 'I dare say that (A)'. 'I dare to say that (A)' is probably the closest to the literal meaning of さぞ, as the speaker is empathizing with someone else by trying to imagine the situation from their point of view.

As さぞ is an adverb, it will usually appear at the beginning of a sentence, modifying the whole phrase that follows.

The phrase following さぞ will often finish with だろう or でしょう. This highlights the speaker's opinion about the situation as being limited by their own knowledge.

Caution

さぞ comes from the kanji (さぞ), which has two alternative readings, (さぞ)や, and (さぞ)かし. Both (さぞ)や, and (さぞ)かし are occasionally used as even further emphasized versions of さぞ.

  • あんなに大切(たいせつ)にしていた(くるま)(ぬす)まれたなんて、さぞや(くや)しかっただろう。
    You must have been so frustrated to have such a cherished car stolen.
  • あの人が(かれ)(ちち)だなんて、さぞかし(おどろ)いただろう。
    He must have been very surprised that that man was his father.

Despite being almost identical in meaning, さぞかし is used more often than さぞや.

Examples

--:--

    夜勤(やきん)仕事(しごと)さぞ大変(たいへん)だろう。」

    How tough the night shift work must be!

    長旅(ながたび)苦労(くろう)(さま)です。さぞ(つか)れでしょう。」

    You went through such a long trip. You must be very tired. (How tired you must be!)

    (はじ)めての(あか)ちゃんのお誕生(たんじょう)さぞ(うれ)しいことでしょう。」

    You must be very happy to have your first child. (How happy you must be to have your first child!)

    智子(さとこ)昇進(しょうしん)見送(みおく)られて、さぞがっかりしたに(ちが)いない。」

    Not getting the promotion, Satoko must be very disappointed. (How disappointed Satoko must be after not getting the promotion!)

    料理好(りょうりず)きの旦那(だんな)さんと結婚(けっこん)されて、さぞ(しあわ)せなことでしょう。

    Getting married to a husband who loves cooking, how happy you must be.

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          • A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar

            Page 678

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        さぞ – Grammar Discussion

        Most Recent Replies (1 in total)

        • darkhelmet

          darkhelmet

          I found this one on DAJG pg 547 instead of 678. Not sure if this is a version difference, mine is the 12th edition printed in 2019.

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