必ず and きっと: certainty and expectation

The idea

必ず marks something as certain or without exception: use it for a promise, an instruction, or a regular result. きっと presents the speaker’s confident expectation, often about something not yet known.

Examples

• 明日あした、必かならず連絡れんらくします。I will definitely contact you tomorrow.
• チケットを必かならず持もってきてください。Please be sure to bring your ticket.
• このボタンを押おすと、必かならず電気でんきがつきます。If you press this button, the light always comes on.
• 明日あしたはきっと晴はれます。It will surely be sunny tomorrow.
• 彼女かのじょはこのプレゼントをきっと喜よろこびます。She will surely be delighted with this present.
• 彼かれはきっとまだ会社かいしゃにいます。He is surely still at the office.

Watch out

A prediction with 必ず sounds categorical; きっと still leaves room for uncertainty. Both can occur in predictions, but they are not interchangeable in a requirement.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the word for a requirement. チケットを＿＿持もってきてください。（必かならず／きっと）

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   必ず

   必ず suits the obligation to bring a ticket.

2. Choose the word for a confident weather prediction. 明日あしたは＿＿晴はれるでしょう。（必かならず／きっと）

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   きっと

   きっと expresses a confident guess about the weather.

3. Choose the word emphasizing a promise. 約束やくそくします。＿＿連絡れんらくします。（必かならず／きっと）

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   必ず

   必ず makes the speaker’s promise emphatic.

Use it today

Make a promise with 必ず, then predict a friend’s reaction with きっと.