If you’ve ever wanted to say “I was supposed to meet him” or “This train should arrive soon” in Japanese, the grammar point 〜はず is exactly what you need. It’s a super useful phrase that helps you express expectations or assumptions based on what you know.

Let’s break it down!

What is 〜はず?

In Japanese, 〜はず is used to express what should be or what is supposed to be true, based on logic, common sense, or information you have.

Think of it like saying:

• “It should be…”
• “It’s supposed to…”
• “I expect that…”

How to Form 〜はず

The basic structure is:

Plain form + はず

Examples:

1. 彼かれは来くるはずです。
   He’s supposed to come.
   (Based on the plan or what he said earlier.)
2. この電車でんしゃは10時じに着つくはずだ。
   This train should arrive at 10.
   (According to the schedule.)
3. 彼女かのじょは日本人にほんじんのはずです。
   She should be Japanese.
   (Maybe based on her name or appearance.)
4. そんなことを言いうはずがない。
   There’s no way he would say such a thing.
   (Used with a negative nuance — はずがない = “can’t be true”)

Important Notes

• 〜はず is based on logical expectation, not just guesses.
• When you want to say something “isn’t supposed to happen,” use:
  • はずがない = “It can’t be true / That’s impossible”
    Example: 彼かれがそんなことをするはずがない。 (There’s no way he would do such a thing.)
  • ないはず = “It shouldn’t happen / It’s not supposed to”
    Example: 今日きょうは雨あめが降ふらないはずです。 (It shouldn’t rain today.)

Compare:

• 雨あめが降ふるはずです。
  It’s supposed to rain. (Maybe you saw it on the forecast)
• 雨あめが降ふるかもしれません。
  It might rain. (More of a guess or possibility)

Final Thoughts

Using 〜はず in Japanese is a great way to sound more natural and express expectations clearly. It’s perfect for both casual and formal situations and helps you show reasoning or logical thinking.

Start using it in daily practice, and you’ll soon feel confident saying what should happen — in Japanese!

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