In Japanese, when speaking casually, if I want to say I wonder if that computer was expensive, I believe, I would say
そのコンピューターは高かったかな
But how do you say "I wonder if that computer was expensive" more politely?
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1そのコンピューターは高かったでしょう?– Jimmy YangCommented Aug 24, 2022 at 22:23
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1Is it supposed to be an implicit question? What kind of situation do you have in mind?– aguijonazoCommented Aug 25, 2022 at 2:01
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If it was meant to be an implicit question, the casual version (そのコンピューターは高かったかな) doesn't sound right. It rather sounds more introspective, like you (the speaker) are saying you are already supposed to know the answer.– Yusuke MatsubaraCommented Aug 25, 2022 at 3:15
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I mean it as in, (Thinking to myself) "I'm curious about whether or not the computer was expensive. It being expensive or inexpensive both seem possible to me".– SpikedHelmetCommented Aug 25, 2022 at 9:53
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1If you are thinking to yourself, why would you have to be polite?– aguijonazoCommented Aug 25, 2022 at 10:15
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3 Answers
The basic strategy of phrasing a straight question as a non-question (or an implicit question) to make it polite works in Japanese, too, by making it less pressing for an answer.
- そのコンピューターはきっと高かったのでしょうね。
- そのコンピューターはきっと高かったでしょうね。
- そのコンピューターはきっと高かったでしょう。
A falling tone would make it sound even less like a question. A rising tone does not necessarily make it less polite, however. I think it depends more on whether you actually want an answer or not.
answered Aug 25, 2022 at 3:20
How about saying 「～(の/ん)でしょうか(ね)」, such as in:
そのコンピューターは、高かったんでしょうか(ね)。
answered Aug 25, 2022 at 10:02
In a polite way, そのコンピューターが高かったか定かではありません。
In another way, そのコンピューターが高かったかははっきり覚えていません。