Mastering はずだ (Hazu Da): Expressing Expectation in Japanese

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Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

Expresses an expectation or strong probability based on some reason or evidence.

🎯 Primary Function

To indicate that something is expected to be true, expected to happen, or logically should be the case.

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb [plain form] + はずだ い-adjective [plain form] + はずだ な-adjective + な + はずだ Noun + の + はずだ

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Can be used, but often more formal expressions might be preferred depending on the level of formality.

😊 Informal Situations

Very common in everyday conversation.

✍️ Written Language

Used in various written contexts, including explanations and informal writing.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Very frequently used to express personal expectations or logical conclusions.

💡 Common Applications

Predicting an event based on known facts.
If you know a store opens at 9 AM, you can say it “should be open now”.
Example: 店は９時に開くはずです。 (Mise wa ku-ji ni aku hazu desu.) The store should open at 9 o’clock.
Stating a logical conclusion or belief.
If your friend is usually punctual, you expect them to arrive on time.
Example: 彼は時間に厳しいから、遅れるはずがない。 (Kare wa jikan ni kibishii kara, okureru hazu ga nai.) Since he is strict about time, he shouldn’t be late.
Expressing disappointment or surprise when the expectation is not met (often with a negative form).
If something you expected to be true turns out not to be.
Example: 美味しいはずだったのに、全然美味しくない。 (Oishii hazu datta noni, zenzen oishiku nai.) It was supposed to be delicious, but it’s not delicious at all.
📊
Frequency
Very frequent in daily conversation.
🎚️
Difficulty
Relatively straightforward for N4, but requires careful attention to conjugation and nuance.
Example Sentences
明日は晴れるはずです。
It should be sunny tomorrow.
この問題は簡単はずです。
This problem should be easy.
彼女は学生なはずです。
She should be a student.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Based on Evidence/Reason
はすだ is used when you have a specific reason, evidence, or logical basis for your expectation.
Example: 天気予報で言っていたから、雨が降るはずだ。(Tenki yohou de itte ita kara, ame ga furu hazu da.) Because the weather forecast said so, it should rain.
Degree of Certainty
It indicates a strong probability or expectation, stronger than だろう/でしょう, but not absolute certainty like に違いない.
Example: 誰もいないから、静かなはずだ。(Daremo inai kara, shizuka na hazu da.) Because there is nobody, it should be quiet.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Incorrectly attaching to な-adjectives.
✅ Add な before はずだ.
Incorrect: きれい はずだ -> Correct: きれいなはずだ
❌ Incorrectly attaching to Nouns.
✅ Add の before はずだ.
Incorrect: 学生 はずだ -> Correct: 学生のはずだ

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Relatively neutral. Adding です at the end makes it more polite.
Social Situations: Suitable for everyday conversation with friends, family, or colleagues.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese, widely understood.

🔍 Subtle Differences

はずだ vs だろう/でしょう
はずだ is based on evidence/reason; だろう/でしょう is more of a guess or less certain prediction.
When to use: Use はずだ when you have a logical reason for your expectation. Use だろう/でしょう for softer or less certain predictions.
はずだ vs に違いない
に違いない expresses higher certainty, almost like “must be”; はずだ is strong probability but not absolute certainty.
When to use: Use はずだ when you are reasonably sure. Use に違いない when you are very confident or feel it is undeniable.
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When to use: undefined

📝 Conjugation Notes

Verbs: Dictionary form or plain past/negative form (e.g., 行くはず, 行ったはず, 行かないはず) い-adjectives: Plain form (e.g., 大きいはず, 難しくないはず) な-adjectives: Add な (e.g., 元気なはず, 静かなはず) Nouns: Add の (e.g., 医者のはず, 学生のはず)

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounced “hazu da”. The ず is pronounced like the “zu” in “zebra”.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of はず as having a “basis” or “reason” (根拠 – konkyo) behind the expectation. はず = Based on [evidence], it should be…

Practice Exercises
傘を持って行った方がいいよ。雨が（　　　　）はずです。
降る
降らない
降ったり
降れば
彼は毎日ジョギングをしているから、（　　　　）はずだ。
元気な
元気だ
元気の
元気に

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