さぞ
You must be very, How … you must be, I dare to say, I am sure or certain that you must be very
Structure
Explanation
さぞ is a somewhat formal Japanese adverb used to show the speaker's strong belief about a situation, often when empathizing with someone else. By using さぞ, the speaker is expressing that they can imagine another person's feelings or state of being. It's often translated as 'I'm sure...', '...must be...', or 'how...'. It conveys a sense of putting oneself in another's shoes and making a strong assumption about their experience.
Being an adverb, さぞ is typically placed at the start of a sentence, where it modifies the entire statement that comes after it.
- 毎日遅くまで勉強していたから、試験の結果はさぞよかったでしょう。You were studying late every day, so your test results must have been great.
- 長年かわいがっていたペットが亡くなって、さぞお寂しいことでしょう。Your beloved pet of many years passed away, so you must be so lonely.
- 一日中山登りをしていたから、さぞお疲れでしょう。You were hiking all day, so you must be exhausted.
さぞ is frequently paired with endings like だろう or でしょう. These endings emphasize that the speaker is making a conjecture based on the information they have.
Caution
さぞ can be written with the kanji 嘸. Two related expressions, さぞや and さぞかし, are sometimes used to add even more emphasis than さぞ alone.
- マラソンで足を骨折したとは、さぞや痛かっただろう。To break your leg during a marathon, that must have been incredibly painful.
- 行方不明だった息子さんが無事に見つかって、さぞかしご安心なされたことでしょう。Your missing son was found safe, so you must be so relieved.
While their meanings are nearly the same, さぞかし is encountered more frequently than さぞや.
Examples
「毎日2時間かけて通勤するなんて、さぞ骨が折れるだろう。」
Commuting for two hours every day, how tough that must be!
「大勢の前での発表、ご苦労さまでした。さぞご緊張されたことでしょう。」
Thank you for your hard work on the presentation in front of so many people. You must have been very nervous. (How nervous you must have been!)
「コンクールで優勝されたそうですね。さぞお喜びのことでしょう。」
I heard you won the competition. You must be overjoyed. (How delighted you must be!)
「健太は志望校に落ちてしまって、さぞ落ち込んでいるに違いない。」
Having failed to get into his school of choice, Kenta must be very down. (How dejected Kenta must be after failing to get into his desired school!)
念願のハワイに移住されて、さぞ楽しい毎日でしょう。
Having moved to Hawaii like you always dreamed, how enjoyable your days must be.
こんな険しい山道を登ってこられたのですね。さぞ、お腹が空いたことでしょう。
You came all the way up this steep mountain path. I am certain that you must be hungry.
硬い手紙：「この度はお父様のこと、さぞお力落としのことと存じます。」
Formal letter: 'Regarding your father's passing, you must be deeply saddened.' ('How disheartened you must be.')
「社長の息子として生まれて、何の苦労も知らないなんて、さぞ幸せでしょうね！」
'Being born the company president's son and not knowing any hardship, how happy you must be!'
このケーキは有名なパティシエが作ったそうだ。さぞおいしいだろう。
I heard this cake was made by a famous pastry chef. I'm certain it must be delicious.
たった三ヶ月でこんなに立派な家を建てるなんて、さぞ腕のいい大工さんに違いない。
To build such a magnificent house in just three months, I am certain that there is no mistake that they must be a very skilled carpenter.
ご高齢のお母様の介護をされていると伺いました。さぞ大変なことと存じます。
I heard that you are caring for your elderly mother. I dare to say that I am aware that it must be very difficult.
長年経営してきた会社が倒産したそうですね。さぞご心痛のことと思います。
I heard the company you managed for so many years went bankrupt. I am certain it must have been heartbreaking.
国民からの税金を私的に流用するなんて、その政治家はさぞ強欲な人間に違いない。
To privately misuse taxpayer money like that, I dare say that there is no mistake that that politician is a greedy person.