はず

はず
noun
should be, supposed to
1. should be, ought to be, supposed to
Indicates expectation based on reasoning or evidence.
彼(かれ)は来(く)るはずだ。
He should come. / He's supposed to come.
ここにあるはずなのに。
It should be here (but it isn't).
知(し)っているはずがない。
There's no way they know.
電車(でんしゃ)はもう着(つ)いているはずです。
The train should have arrived by now.
彼女(かのじょ)なら上手(じょうず)にできるはずだと思(おも)っていたが、予想(よそう)以上(いじょう)の出来(でき)だった。
I thought she should be able to do it well, but the result exceeded my expectations.

はず expresses logical expectation - what should be true based on reasoning or evidence. It's grammatically a noun.

GRAMMAR PATTERNS:

  • Verb (plain) + はず: 来(く)るはずだ (should come)
  • い-adj + はず: 高(たか)いはずだ (should be expensive)
  • な-adj + な + はず: 静(しず)かなはずだ (should be quiet)
  • Noun + の + はず: 学生(がくせい)のはずだ (should be a student)

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • ～はずだ: should be ~, is supposed to ~
  • ～はずがない: there's no way that ~
  • ～はずだったのに: was supposed to ~, but...

DISTINCTION:

  • はず: logical expectation (based on evidence/reasoning)
  • べき: moral obligation (should do, ought to)
  • はずがない expresses strong disbelief, not just negation
core
Added 2026.1.8 21:33 · Revised 2026.3.13 13:41
01500/01557_hazu