(1) surely..., but ~ (2) should have ~ (だろうに) – Japanese Grammar だろうに (darou ni)

Q: What JLPT level is だろうに?

JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms

Q: How do you use だろうに in a sentence?

Attach だろうに to the appropriate verb or noun form. (1) surely..., but ~ (2) should have ~

Q: Is だろうに formal or casual Japanese?

だろうに is typically used in formal or written Japanese contexts.

だろうに

N1 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

darou ni

(1) surely..., but ~ (2) should have ~

ならいざしらず /はいざしらず nara iza shirazu / wa iza shirazu た弾みに /た拍子に ta hazumi ni / ta hyoushi ni にまつわる ni matsuwaru こそ「〜が・けれど」 koso~ga/keredo いかに ikani ぶり / っぷり buri / ppuri はさておき wa sateoki にかかっては /にかかったら / にかかると / かかれば ni kakatte wa / ni kakattara / ni kakaru to / kakareba を踏まえて o fumaete あっての atte no 折に ori ni て済むことではない te sumu koto dewa nai に至るまで ni itaru made ないまでも nai made mo いかんにかかわらず /いかんによらず /いかんをとわず ikan ni kakawarazu / ikan ni yorazu /ikan o towazu のなんのって no nan notte には当たらない niwa ataranai とも〜とも tomo~tomo をもって /をもちまして o motte /o mochimashite を余儀なくされる o yogi naku sareru ならいざしらず /はいざしらず nara iza shirazu / wa iza shirazu た弾みに /た拍子に ta hazumi ni / ta hyoushi ni にまつわる ni matsuwaru こそ「〜が・けれど」 koso~ga/keredo いかに ikani ぶり / っぷり buri / ppuri はさておき wa sateoki にかかっては /にかかったら / にかかると / かかれば ni kakatte wa / ni kakattara / ni kakaru to / kakareba を踏まえて o fumaete あっての atte no 折に ori ni て済むことではない te sumu koto dewa nai に至るまで ni itaru made ないまでも nai made mo いかんにかかわらず /いかんによらず /いかんをとわず ikan ni kakawarazu / ikan ni yorazu /ikan o towazu のなんのって no nan notte には当たらない niwa ataranai とも〜とも tomo~tomo をもって /をもちまして o motte /o mochimashite を余儀なくされる o yogi naku sareru

🃏 Flashcard

だろうに

darou ni

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(1) surely..., but ~ (2) should have ~

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N1

Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms

Reading darou ni

Post ID 51206

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

(1) surely..., but ~ (2) should have ~

📖 How to use it

Expresses pity or reproach about something that surely was or should have been the case, but wasn't.

Attaches to Attaches to the plain present/past form of verbs, adjectives, or nouns + だ. For nouns and な-adjectives, use だろうに after the noun or stem (e.g., 学生だろうに).

This pattern combines the conjecture だろう (probably) with the particle に, which here carries a sense of contrast or disappointment. You use it when you imagine what was likely true or what should have happened, and then point out that reality fell short. It often carries a tone of sympathy (e.g., feeling sorry for someone) or mild reproach (e.g., criticizing someone's choice).

だろうに is a written or formal-spoken pattern, common in novels, essays, and formal speech. In casual conversation, you would more likely use のに or はずなのに. Because it sounds a bit literary, using it in everyday chat can feel stiff unless you are joking or being dramatic.

The key is that the speaker is making a guess about a past or present situation and contrasting it with what actually happened. It is not used for future possibilities; the focus is on reality that has already unfolded.

彼は知っていただろうに、何も言わなかった。

Kare wa shitte ita darou ni, nanimo iwanakatta.

He surely knew, but he said nothing.

もっと練習していれば、試合に勝てただろうに。

Motto renshuu shite ireba, shiai ni kateta darou ni.

If you had practiced more, you could have won the match.

あの時、素直に謝っていれば、許してもらえたろうに。

Ano toki, sunao ni ayamatte ireba, yurushite moraetarou ni.

If you had apologized sincerely then, you would have been forgiven.

Not のにのに simply states a contrast (e.g., 知っていたのに言わなかった). だろうに adds a layer of speculation or regret about what was likely true or possible, making it more emotional and often more reproachful.

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

だろうに

📚 How to Master This Pattern

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Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat だろうに three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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Flip Before Reading

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Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using だろうに. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

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Spaced Review

Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.

🔗 More JLPT N1 Patterns

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だの〜だの

and; and the like; and so forth ~

であれ / であろうと

whoever; whatever; however; even ~

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern だろうに mean? ▼

(1) surely..., but ~ (2) should have ~

What JLPT level is だろうに? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use だろうに in a sentence? ▼

Attach だろうに (darou ni) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.

Is だろうに formal or casual Japanese? ▼

だろうに is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.

How can I remember だろうに long-term? ▼

Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.