もちろん
mochiron
In Japanese, the phrase for sure is もちろん (mochiron).
もちろん can function as an adverb meaning 'of course' or as an interjection meaning 'sure' or 'certainly'.
Meaning: certain in one's knowledge or belief (adj)
Which one should you use?
While the English 'sure' can sometimes function as a soft agreement, もちろん carries a stronger sense of 'it is natural' or 'it is obvious that…'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The casual agreement form ええ is more commonly used in western Japan.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
mochiron
When do people say it?
When expressing agreement or confirmation, you can also use そうですね to mean 'That's right, isn't it?', which shows agreement while seeking confirmation.
Did you know?
- Using もちろん to agree with a superior or a customer can sometimes sound too assertive, as if you are saying 'of course it is so' in a way that implies the answer was too obvious to ask.
- In Japanese culture, a 'sure' or 'yes' is often conveyed through a silent nod or a slight tilt of the head rather than speaking the word もちろん.
- While もちろん expresses certainty, Japanese speakers often use 多分 meaning 'probably' even when they are quite sure, to avoid appearing overly assertive.
Examples in context
- もちろん、どうぞ。Sure, go right ahead.This sentence shows how to use もちろん to give permission.Tatoeba #11114982 by bunbuku, translation #30541 by CM
- 「イチゴ好き？」「もちろん。大好き」"Do you like strawberries?" "Sure. I love them."This sentence shows using もちろん to answer a question about preferences.Tatoeba #11724568 by small_snow, translation #1858747 by CK
- もちろん。Sure.This sentence shows a simple use of もちろん as an affirmative response.Tatoeba #1068624 by bunbuku, translation #7770494 by sharris123
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui asks Hiroto if he is sure about his plan.
- 結衣 Yuiこの計画で大丈夫？Kono keikaku de daijoubu?Is this plan okay?
- 大翔 Hirotoもちろん。準備は万端だよ。Mochiron. Junbi wa bantan da yo.Of course. I'm perfectly prepared.
- 結衣 Yui本当に大丈夫？Hontou ni daijoubu?Are you really sure?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、もちろん自信があるよ。Un, mochiron jishin ga aru yo.Yeah, of course I'm confident.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry もちろん, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
