きっと

adverb

surely, certainly

1. surely, certainly, definitely

Expresses strong confidence that something will happen or is true. Used when the speaker feels certain about a prediction or expectation.

明日(あした)はきっと晴(は)れますよ。

It will surely be sunny tomorrow.

きっと大丈夫(だいじょうぶ)ですよ。

I'm sure it will be fine.

Reassuring someone

彼(かれ)はきっと来(き)ます。

He will definitely come.

きっと上手(じょうず)になりますよ。頑張(がんば)ってください。

You'll surely get good at it. Keep trying.

彼女(かのじょ)はきっと私(わたし)のことを忘(わす)れていないと思(おも)います。

I think she surely hasn't forgotten about me.

きっと expresses the speaker's strong confidence that something will happen or is true.

Degrees of certainty

きっと: surely, definitely (~90% confidence)
たぶん: probably (~70% confidence)
もしかしたら: perhaps, maybe (~30% confidence)

Common patterns

きっと〜だろう: surely ~ (with conjecture)
きっと〜と思(おも)う: I'm sure that ~
きっと〜はず: surely must be ~
きっと大丈夫(だいじょうぶ): I'm sure it'll be fine

Usage

Often used to encourage or reassure others. Works with both positive and negative predictions. Usually written in hiragana.
きっと expresses the speaker's subjective confidence. For objective certainty, use 必(かなら)ず (without fail) or 確(たし)かに (certainly).

Related Words

Compare: たぶん (probably (~60-70%))

Compare: てっきり (certainly (often mistaken))

Compare: ぜひ (by all means, definitely)

Compare: おそらく (probably, perhaps)

Compare: 間違(まちが)いない (certain)

core

Added 2026.1.7 21:25 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29

00500/00860_kitto