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さぞ(かし)

surely, must have been (imagining someone's feelings)

さぞ(かし) + 〜でしょう / 〜ことだろう / 〜に違いない

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さぞ imagines how strongly someone must feel, especially in a situation you weren't in yourself: 長旅でさぞお疲れでしょう, "you must be exhausted after such a long journey".

It almost always ends with a guess: でしょう, だろう, ことだろう or に違いない. The feeling is usually strong, like tiredness, joy, sadness or anger, and さぞ adds sympathy.

さぞかし and さぞや are more emphatic versions.

It's close to きっと, but きっと is just a confident guess about anything. さぞ is specifically "I can only imagine how…". That makes it polite and warm, and common in letters, condolences and congratulations.

You don't use it about your own feelings.

Examples

  • 長旅ながたびでさぞお疲つかれでしょう。

    You must be exhausted after such a long journey.

  • 合格ごうかくして、ご両親りょうしんもさぞお喜よろこびでしょう。

    Your parents must be delighted that you passed.

  • 一人ひとりでさぞ寂さびしかったことだろう。

    You must have been so lonely on your own.

  • 山頂さんちょうからの景色けしきはさぞ美うつくしかったに違ちがいない。

    The view from the summit must have been beautiful.

  • あんなことを言いわれて、さぞ腹はらが立たったでしょう。

    You must have been furious to be told that.