1.
as expected, sure enough
Indicates that something turned out just as one expected or feared. Often used when confirming a prediction.
果たして予想通りだった。
Sure enough, it was just as expected.
心配していたが、果たして雨が降り出した。
I had been worried, and sure enough, it started to rain.
彼は大丈夫だと言っていたが、果たしてその言葉通り、無事に帰ってきた。
He said he'd be fine, and sure enough, true to his word, he returned safely.
2.
really, indeed (rhetorical)
Used in questions to express doubt or wonder about whether something is truly the case. Adds a rhetorical or contemplative tone.
果たして本当だろうか。
Is it really true, I wonder?
果たしてこの計画はうまくいくのか。
Will this plan really work out?
人間は果たして自然と共存できるのだろうか。
Can humans really coexist with nature?
USAGE:
Sense 1 (as expected) typically appears in narrative or reporting contexts, confirming something that was anticipated. It often pairs with past-tense statements.
Sense 2 (really?) appears in questions, often with だろうか or のか, adding a contemplative or skeptical nuance. Common in essays, speeches, and inner monologue.
ETYMOLOGY:
From the verb 果たす (to fulfill, to carry out). The て-form became fixed as an adverb meaning "as a result" or "in the end."