Word
果たして
Meaning in Englishas was expected, just as one thought, sure enough
Animated kanji stroke order
Sentence
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Word context
What it means
果たして means 'indeed; as expected' and is used to introduce a clause that confirms or questions whether something happened as anticipated, signaling the speaker's sense of outcome or doubt.
Main meanings
- Used at the start of a sentence to express doubt, expectation, or to frame the following clause as to whether something happened as expected.
- Often introduces a question or contrast, equivalent to 'I wonder' or 'as it turns out' depending on context.
- Can precede a main clause with か or でしょうか to form a question or to assert the outcome of a situation.
How to use it
Used at the start of a sentence to frame a claim about expectation or outcome; suitable for both formal writing and spoken Japanese; often followed by か or attached to the main clause to indicate the outcome statement.
Variants and close terms
- 本当に (hontō ni) — truly, really
- いったい (ittai) — what on earth; expresses strong doubt
- 結局 (kekkyoku) — eventually; used to link to the final outcome
Composition
- 果: conveys the idea of result or end product, contributing the nuance of bringing something to fruition
- たす: the verb ending (okurigana) forming 果たす, meaning to accomplish or fulfill; combined with 果 yields the sense of bringing something to completion
Etymology
果たす (hatasu, to accomplish) + て-form creates the conjunctive adverbial form 果たして used to connect a lead-in clause with the main clause, conveying result or confirmation.
Word class
conjunctive adverb (接続副詞)
Word
Related words by kanji and components
N1
成果
seika
results, fruits
N1
果たす
hatasu
to accomplish, to fulfill, to carry out, to achieve
N1
果て
hate
the end, the extremity, the limit(s)
N1
果てる
hateru
to end, to be finished, to be exhausted
N2
果実
kajitsu
fruit
N2
果して
hatashite
as was expected, really
N3
結果
kekka
result, consequence, outcome
N3
効果
kouka
effect, result, efficacy
N5
果物
kudamono
fruit
Kanji