“〜to ieru・〜to ieru darou”: One Can Say That 〜 (a grounded, objective judgment) [JLPT N2]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「データから見て回復していると言えるだろう」 — a grounded claim, firmer than “I think.”

「これは成功だったと言えるだろう」 — making a grounded judgment

Looking at the data, 「今回のプロジェクトは成功だったと言えるだろう」 (this project can be said to have been a success) — 「〜と言える・〜と言えるだろう」 = it can be said that ～, used to make an objective judgment or assertion on some basis. It's not the subjective “I feel,” but the grounded conclusion “(given the facts) one can say so” — a pattern common at the close of essays and reports. This guide covers its objective feel, the softening role of 「だろう,」 and how to tell it from the subjective 「と思う.」

Core: と言える = (with grounds) one can say so

「〜と言える」 means “on some facts/reasons, one can make this judgment,” with an objective, grounded feel:

• 努力が実を結んだと言える (one can say the effort bore fruit).
• データから見て、景気は回復傾向にあると言える (from the data, one can say the economy is trending toward recovery).

Adding 「だろう」 — 「〜と言えるだろう」 = “one can (probably) say,” a slightly softer, inferential tone, a touch more modest than a flat assertion.

Feel: “it can be said that ～／one can probably say ～” — the core is a grounded, objective judgment: not the purely subjective “I think,” but “(given these grounds) one can say so.” Often used to draw a conclusion, sum up.

Attachment rules

See it in context

• 以上の点から、この政策は妥当だったと言えるだろう。(From the above points, one can say this policy was sound.)
• 彼の貢献は大きかったと言える。(One can say his contribution was great.)
• 数字だけでは、成功したとは言えない。(By the numbers alone, it can't be said to be a success.)
• これは歴史的な転換点だったと言えるだろう。(One can probably say this was a historic turning point.)
• 準備は十分だったとは言えないが、結果は出た。(It can't be said the preparation was sufficient, but results came.)

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① 「と言える」 is a ‘grounded objective judgment,' not the purely subjective ‘I feel.' This is its biggest difference from 「と思う.」 「〜と言える」 carries a ‘grounded, objective' feel — meaning “(given these facts/reasons) one can say so, one can make this judgment,” usually with grounds before it (データから見て, 以上の点から): 売上が伸びたので、成功だったと言える (since sales grew, one can say it was a success — grounded). 「〜と思う」 is the purely subjective ‘I think, I feel': 私は成功だったと思う (I think it was a success — a personal impression). So when drawing an objective conclusion in an essay or report, 「と言える」 is more persuasive and professional than 「と思う.」 To “assert with grounds” use と言える; to “express a personal view” use と思う.

② Adding 「だろう」 softens and leaves room — it's not the offhand ‘probably' of a guess. The 「だろう」 in 「〜と言えるだろう」 serves to slightly soften the assertion and leave some room, making the judgment less blunt, with the sense of “(one should) be able to say so”: これは進歩だと言えるだろう (one can probably say this is progress). It's not the uncertain “probably, maybe” of a shaky guess, but an expression of some confidence, courteously not stated too flatly, appearing cautious, tactful in argument. So 「と言えるだろう」 is a touch softer than plain 「と言える,」 fitting when you don't want to be too categorical. Test: to assert use と言える; to assert but leave room, appearing cautious use と言えるだろう.

③ The negative 「とは言えない」 = can't be said to be (a polite negation). The negative of 「〜と言える」 is 「〜とは言えない,」 meaning “can't be said to be ～, doesn't quite amount to ～,” often for polite negation or reservation: これで安全だとは言えない (this can't be said to be safe), 成功したとは言えない (can't be said to be a success). Note it's more indirect than plainly saying 「安全ではない (not safe)」 — 「とは言えない」 is “(though not utterly denying it,) one can't quite say so,” with a reserved, cautious feel. To politely say “doesn't quite amount to, can't be said to be ～,” 「とは言えない」 is handy, common in objective, cautious argument.

🔄 Nuance & comparison: と言える／と思う／に違いない／かもしれない

💡 The key point in use

「〜と言える・と言えるだろう」 = (with grounds) it can be said that ～, a sharp tool for closing essays and reports — three points: ① it's an objective, grounded judgment — unlike the purely subjective 「と思う (I feel)」, 「と言える」 is “(given these grounds) one can say so,” usually with grounds before it (データから／以上の点から), making conclusions more professional and forceful; ② adding 「だろう」 softens and leaves room — 「と言えるだろう」 is softer, more cautious than 「と言える」 (one can probably say so), not the uncertain “probably”; ③ the negative 「とは言えない」 = a polite ‘can't be said to be' (成功したとは言えない = doesn't amount to a success). Comparing relatives: for a grounded objective conclusion use と言える, for a subjective view use と思う, for a strongly-convinced inference use 〈に違いない〉. Writing a report or argument to sum up with grounds, 「〜と言えるだろう」 is more fitting and weighty than 「〜と思う.」

❓ FAQ

Q: 「と言える」 and 「と思う」 both express judgment — what's the difference?

The difference is objective/grounded vs subjective impression. 「〜と言える」 = (grounded) one can say: with an objective, grounded feel, meaning “(on certain facts/reasons, therefore) one can make this judgment,” usually with supporting grounds before it: この結果から、実験は成功したと言える (from this result, one can say the experiment succeeded — data-backed), 彼の努力を考えれば、当然の報いだと言える (considering his effort, one can say it's a deserved reward — reasoned). Because it's “grounded,” it especially fits drawing conclusions in essays, reports, objective analysis, appearing professional and persuasive. 「〜と思う」 = I think, I feel (purely subjective): it merely expresses a personal view, impression, not stressing objective grounds: 私はこの映画が名作だと思う (I think this film is a masterpiece — a personal impression), たぶん大丈夫だと思う (I think it's probably fine). Test: to make a grounded, objective judgment/conclusion (especially in writing) → と言える; to express your own subjective view, feeling → と思う. A tip: when writing an argument or report, using 「〜と言える（だろう）」 for the conclusion is more objective and forceful than 「〜と思う,」 as it implies “this isn't just my personal opinion, but something one can say on grounds.”

Q: Does the 「だろう」 in 「と言えるだろう」 mean ‘probably, maybe'?

Not quite. The 「だろう」 here doesn't express “an uncertain guess (probably, maybe),” but serves to soften the assertion and leave some room, making the judgment appear cautious, non-blunt. 「〜と言える」 flatly asserts “it can be said that ～,” while adding 「だろう」 — 「〜と言えるだろう」 — is “one should be able to say ～,” with the sense of “I have some confidence in this judgment, but courteously don't state it too flatly”: これは大きな成果だと言えるだろう (one can probably say this is a big achievement — confident, but leaving room in tone). It differs from the genuinely “low-confidence” 「かもしれない (may, maybe)」: 「成功したと言えるだろう」 is “(with grounds,) one can say it was a success” (fairly confident), while 「成功したかもしれない」 is “it may have succeeded (or may not)” (uncertain). So 「だろう」 here is a kind of argumentative modesty, caution — though grounds allow an assertion, 「だろう」 softens the tone to avoid being too categorical, a common tact in written argument. Test: 「と言える」 = a direct objective assertion; 「と言えるだろう」 = an objective assertion softened, leaving room (cautious); both far more confident than 「かもしれない (uncertain).」

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「データから見て、景気は回復している___。」(one can say; an objective assertion)

(A) と言えるだろう　(B) わけがない　(C) どころではない　(D) ものか

Q2. 「と言える」の語感は?

(A) An objective assertion based on evidence (one can say)

(B) Purely subjective guess

(C) Command

(D) Question

Q3. 「成功だったと言えるだろう」の意味は?

(A) One can say it was a success (objective judgment)

(B) Definitely a failure

(C) Don't know the result

(D) Ordering success

Q4. 「と言える」と「と思う」の違いは?

(A) と言える = objective assertion; と思う = subjective opinion

(B) The two are exactly the same

(C) と言える = subjective

(D) と思う = objective

Q5. 接法が正しいのは?

(A) これは傑作だと言える。　(B) これは傑作と言える(なら だ が必要)。

(C) 傑作だと言えるを。　(D) 傑作と言えるだ思う。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) と言えるだろう ── one can say the economy is recovering (objective).

2. (A) ── an objective assertion based on evidence.

3. (A) ── one can say it was a success.

4. (A) ── と言える is objective; と思う is subjective.

5. (A) ── noun 「傑作だ」＋と言える.