はずだ
🃏 Flashcard
はずだ
hazu da
Tap to reveal usage
it must be; it should be (expectation)
N4
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N4
Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences
Reading
hazu da
Post ID
50700
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
it must be; it should be (expectation)
📖 How to use it
Expresses the speaker's strong expectation or logical conclusion based on known information, equivalent to 'it must be' or 'it should be' in English.
Attaches to
Attach to the plain present/past of verbs and adjectives (dictionary form, ない-form, た-form, etc.), or to noun + の, or to な-adjective stem + な.
はずだ is used when you have a good reason to believe something is true, even if you don't have direct proof. It's not a guess; it's a reasoned inference. For example, if you see someone's umbrella wet, you might say 'Ame ga futta hazu da' (It must have rained). The nuance is 'based on what I know, this is almost certain.'
彼はもうすぐ来るはずだ。
Kare wa mō sugu kuru hazu da.
He should be coming soon.
この本は高いはずだ。
Kono hon wa takai hazu da.
This book must be expensive.
彼女は日本人のはずだ。
Kanojo wa nihonjin no hazu da.
She must be Japanese.
Not はずがない
はずがない means 'there is no way that...' (strong denial of expectation), while はずだ expresses a positive expectation. For example, あの人が来るはずがない means 'There's no way that person will come.'
Register
Used in both spoken and written Japanese; polite when used with です (はずです).
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
はずだ
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat はずだ three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using はずだ. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N4 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern はずだ mean?
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It must be; it should be (expectation)
What JLPT level is はずだ?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use はずだ in a sentence?
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Attach はずだ (hazu da) 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 はずだ formal or casual Japanese?
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はずだ is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember はずだ long-term?
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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.