Certainty Signal
Epistemic modality
Evidential adverb
Stance marker
How sure is the speaker?
extended
intermediate
Speaker stance
含义
A signal of certainty, probability, doubt, assumption, hearsay, inference, or confidence.
如何识别
Look for words like certainly, probably, maybe, apparently.
示例
单词
certainly|probably|maybe|apparently|surely
短语
probably true|maybe later|apparently finished
句子
She is probably at home.
Visual guide
Basic shape
claim: She is at home.
^
certainty layer:
how sure is speaker?
maybe -> probably -> certainly
low mid high
Compare shape
Where can E07 live? adverb: probably particle: maybe modal verb: MOD + verb verb/mood: CERT-form same job: confidence
语言视角
在母语中
Mandarin Chinese (Simplified, standard)
显性程度
medium
重要程度
Certainty and evidence strength are expressed lexically with words like 一定, 可能, 好像, 听说, 据说; they are not usually obligatory grammar.
他好像不知道。
tā hǎoxiàng bù zhīdào = he seems not know
在目标语言中
Japanese
显性程度
strong
学习难度
Certainty is marked by adverbs and sentence-final forms such as だろう.
彼女はたぶん家にいる。
She is probably at home.
常见易错点
Learners may miss the strength difference between たぶん, きっと and でしょう.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.