“hatashite”: I Wonder if…? / Sure Enough (two uses) [JLPT N2]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
The contrast between hatashite's two uses
“hatashite”: I Wonder if…? / Sure Enough (two uses)
「果たして（はたして）」 is an adverb with two uses: ① intensifying a question — “really, I wonder,” paired with a question: 「果たしてこの計画は成功するのだろうか」 (will this plan really succeed, I wonder?); ② as expected — “sure enough, just as expected”: 「果たして彼は来なかった」 (sure enough, he didn't come). Tell which by whether the sentence is a question or a statement.
🧠 Core nuance: intense focus on the “outcome” — suspense or confirmation
Both uses revolve around the outcome: ① in a question, it's intense suspense about the result (how will it turn out?), with tension and anticipation; ② in a statement, it's confirmation of the result (just as I expected). If followed by 〜だろうか・〜のか it's the question sense (“really…?”); if by a past fact, it's “sure enough.” It adds dramatic tension.
📌 Usage Overview
| Use | Pairing | Example |
|---|---|---|
| “really/I wonder” (intensify question) | 果たして〜だろうか／のか | 果たして成功するのか |
| “sure enough” (as expected) | 果たして ＋ past fact | 果たしてそうなった |
| (register) written, slightly formal | argument/narrative | 果たして真実は? |
💬 Example Sentences
- 果たして、この計画は成功するのだろうか。(Will this plan really succeed, I wonder?) — intensified question
- 果たして真実は明らかになるのか。(Will the truth really come to light?) — suspense
- 心配していたが、果たして彼は来なかった。(I'd worried, and sure enough, he didn't come.) — as expected
- 予想通り、果たして試合は中止になった。(As predicted, the match was indeed cancelled.) — confirmation
- 果たして彼の言葉は本当だったのか。(Was what he said really true?) — doubt
🔄 Compare: 果たして vs まさか vs やはり vs いったい
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 果たして | “really…?” (suspense) / “sure enough” (confirmation) | 果たして成功するか |
| まさか | “surely not / no way” (incredulous denial) | まさか彼が |
| やはり／やっぱり | “sure enough / after all” (confirmation, colloquial) | やはり来なかった |
| いったい | “on earth” (intensified question, emotional) | いったい何が? |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Question use without a question ending: the question sense usually pairs with 〜だろうか・〜のか; don't leave it as just 果たして成功する (incomplete tone).
- Confusing it with まさか: 果たして is “really/sure enough”; まさか is “surely not/no way” (surprise) — different.
- Using it for thanks/trivial talk: ✗ 果たしてありがとう → it's for suspense/confirmation about significant outcomes, not casual remarks.
- Adding を/だ: ✗ 果たしてを/果たしてだ → it's an adverb, modifying the sentence directly.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
果たして is a dramatic written adverb: setting up suspense (how will it turn out?) or confirming a prediction (just as expected), common in essays, reporting, novels, and reviews. It makes narration more gripping. For a casual “sure enough,” use やっぱり; to intensify a question, use いったい. Master its two uses (by question vs statement) for more layered expression. A must at N2.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- Commonly tested at N2: 果たして's two uses — “really…?” (question, with だろうか/のか) vs “sure enough” (confirmation).
- Distinction: 果たして (really/sure enough) vs まさか (surely not) vs やはり (sure enough, colloquial).
- The question use often pairs with the ending 〜のだろうか.
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「___、この計画は成功するのだろうか。」（究竟，加強疑問）
(A) 果たして (B) せっかく (C) わざわざ (D) どうせ
Q2. 「果たして」の二つの用法は?
(A) 究竟(疑問)／果然(如預期)
(B) 命令／禁止
(C) 條件／逆接
(D) 並列／選擇
Q3. 「果たして彼は来なかった」の意味は?
(A) 果然他沒來（如預期）
(B) 他究竟來了沒
(C) 他一定會來
(D) 希望他來
Q4. 疑問用法とよく一緒に来るのは?
(A) 〜だろうか／〜のか
(B) ください
(C) なさい
(D) ましょう
Q5. 用法が自然なのは?
(A) 果たして真実は明らかになるのか。 (B) 果たしてありがとう(感謝)。
(C) 果たしてを食べる。 (D) 果たしてだ高い。
答案解析
1. (A) 果たして ── 究竟會不會成功(加強疑問)。
2. (A) ── 究竟/果然。
3. (A) ── 果然他沒來(如預期)。
4. (A) ── 疑問配だろうか/のか。
5. (A) ── 「果たして〜のか」正確。