95988
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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2022-08-24T21:03:55.793
95978
2022-08-25T10:02:21.403
2022-08-25T02:37:52.277
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question
english-to-japanese keigo
How to politely say "I wonder..."
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。
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2022-08-25T02:04:17.087
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2022-08-25T02:51:54.277
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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.
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2022-08-25T03:20:20.753
95988
2022-08-25T03:20:20.753
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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)。
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2022-08-25T10:02:21.403
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