果たして
Wonder if ~ (really)?, Wonder how ~ (actually)?, Sure enough, As expected
Structure
はたして + Phrase
Explanation
Derived from the て-form of the verb 果たす, meaning 'to fulfill' or 'to bring to fruition', 果たして is an adverb that emphasizes uncertainty or doubt. It can be translated as 'really', 'actually', or 'I wonder...'.
果たして frequently appears alongside expressions of conjecture like だろうか, でしょうか, or かな. In these cases, it serves to intensify the speaker's feeling of doubt or curiosity.
Because it functions as an adverb, this grammar point is almost always placed at the very beginning of a sentence.
- 果たしてこの計画はうまくいくのだろうか。I wonder if this plan will really go well.
- 果たして、明日までに宿題は終わるのでしょうか。Will I actually be able to finish my homework by tomorrow?
When used in a sentence that doesn't end in a speculative expression like だろうか, 果たして instead confirms an outcome that was anticipated, translating to 'sure enough' or 'just as expected'.
- 彼は毎日一生懸命勉強した。果たして、試験に合格した。He studied as hard as he could every day. Sure enough, he passed the exam.
- みんなが危ないよと言っていたが、彼は聞かなかった。果たして、彼は怪我をした。Everyone warned him it was dangerous, but he didn't listen. Just as they'd said, he got injured.
Fun-fact
Stemming from the original meaning of 果たす ('to bring about a result'), 果たして can often be interpreted as 'in the end'. This reflects the speaker's focus on the final outcome of a situation, whether it has already happened or is yet to come.
- この道を選んで、果たして将来幸せになれるのだろうか。Having chosen this path, I wonder if I will truly be happy in the future.
- チームで一番練習したから、果たして彼女が優勝した。She practiced more than anyone else on the team, so sure enough, she was the one who won the championship in the end.
When thinking of 果たして as 'in the end', it's crucial to remember that this final outcome is almost always something the speaker had already predicted or suspected would occur.
Examples
あの噂は果たして本当だろうか。
I wonder if that rumor is really true.
Ａ：「この古い地図で宝物を探しにいこう！」
Ｂ：「果たして見つかるのかしら？」
A: 'Let's go find the treasure with this old map!'
B: 'I wonder if we'll actually find it?'
あんなに難しい試験に、果たして合格できるのだろうか。
I wonder if I can really pass such a difficult exam.
このサプリメントは果たして広告どおりの効果があるのでしょうか。
I wonder if this supplement actually has the effects described in the advertisement.
彼はほとんど勉強しなかった。果たして、試験に落ちてしまった。
He barely studied at all. As expected, he ended up failing the exam.
広い宇宙のどこかに、果たして生命体は存在するのだろうか。
Somewhere in this vast universe, I wonder if life really exists.
一度も長距離を走ったことがないのに、果たしてフルマラソンを完走できるだろうか。
Having never run a long distance before, I wonder if I can actually finish a full marathon.
チームは毎日厳しい練習を重ねた。果たして、大会で優勝した。
The team endured harsh training every day. Sure enough, they won the tournament.
１０年も使っていないパソコンだが、果たしてまだ動くだろうか。
This is a computer I haven't used in 10 years. I wonder if it will really work.
彼は食べ物の好みがうるさいが、果たしてこの料理を食べてくれるだろうか。
He's a picky eater, so I wonder if he'll actually eat this dish.
天気予報は雨だった。果たして、午後から降り出した。
The weather forecast predicted rain. Just as expected, it started raining in the afternoon.
お金があれば幸せになれると言う人がいる。果たしてそれは事実なのでしょうか。
Some people say that you can be happy if you have money. I wonder if that is really a fact.