～でしょうか
Ask a careful and polite question
You'll be able to soften a question when speaking to customers, strangers, or people in authority.
駅はどちらでしょうか。
eki wa dochira deshou ka.
What do you think this sentence means?
Could you tell me which way the station is?
Ask a careful question
～でしょうか softens an inquiry or presents a tentative question. It is useful with strangers or in formal settings, and does not always express probability.
今、大丈夫でしょうか。
ima, daijoubu deshou ka.
Would now be all right?
Form and use ～でしょうか
Use どちらでしょうか for a careful direction question and 大丈夫でしょうか to check acceptability. Do not insert だ before でしょうか.
今、大丈夫でしょうか。
ima, daijoubu deshou ka.
Would now be all right?
何時に始まるでしょうか。
nanji ni hajimaru deshou ka.
What time will it begin, I wonder?
すみません、お手洗いはどちらでしょうか。
sumimasen, otearai wa dochira deshou ka.
Excuse me, which way is the restroom?
すみません、この席は空いているでしょうか。
sumimasen, kono seki wa aite iru deshou ka.
Excuse me, is this seat free?
明日の会議は何時からでしょうか。
ashita no kaigi wa nanji kara deshou ka.
What time does tomorrow's meeting start?
7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.