Translation guide
The English word 'maybe' is used to express uncertainty or possibility. In Japanese, this is most commonly expressed with the sentence-ending particle かもしれない or the adverb たぶん. The choice depends on the level of certainty, formality, and whether you are making a guess or suggesting a possibility.
The speaker is not sure about something, but thinks it is possible. This is the most common use of 'maybe'.
Attach to the plain form of a verb, adjective, or noun. This is the most direct and common equivalent of 'maybe' or 'might'. It expresses a possibility, often with a nuance of 'it could be that...'.
彼は来ないかもしれない。
Maybe he won't come.
Maybe that's true.
An adverb meaning 'probably' or 'maybe'. It is often used with 〜だろう or 〜と思う to soften the assertion. In casual speech, it can stand alone or with a plain form verb.
たぶん大丈夫だよ。
Maybe it'll be fine.
たぶん彼は知らないと思う。
I think maybe he doesn't know.
Casual abbreviation of かもしれない. Used in informal conversation.
明日雨かも。
Maybe it'll rain tomorrow.
Expresses conjecture. でしょう is polite, だろう is plain. Often used with たぶん. It translates to 'probably' or 'I guess'.
たぶん彼は来るでしょう。
Maybe he will come.
Means 'maybe' or 'possibly' with a nuance of 'by any chance'. Used when the possibility is low or unexpected.
ひょっとすると彼は来るかもしれない。
Maybe, just maybe, he'll come.
The speaker is proposing an idea without being forceful. 'Maybe' softens the suggestion.
These patterns mean 'why don't you...?' or 'how about...?'. They are used to make casual suggestions. Adding もしかしたら or たぶん is not necessary; the tentative tone is built into the pattern.
彼に聞いてみたら？
Maybe you should ask him.
Often used with 〜かもしれない to mean 'maybe' or 'perhaps'. It adds a sense of 'possibly' and is slightly more tentative than たぶん.
もしかしたら彼が知っているかもしれない。
Maybe he knows.
The speaker is making a guess but is not at all sure. 'Maybe' here is close to 'perhaps'.
Means 'or', 'maybe', or 'possibly'. Used to present an alternative possibility.
あるいは彼はもう知っているかもしれない。
Maybe he already knows.
Literally 'depending on the circumstances', used to mean 'maybe' or 'possibly'. More formal and less common in daily speech.
たぶん is an adverb meaning 'probably', while かもしれない is a sentence-ending expression meaning 'might' or 'maybe'. たぶん is often used with 〜だろう/〜でしょう or 〜と思う to express a higher degree of certainty. かもしれない expresses a simple possibility without implying probability. In casual speech, たぶん can be used alone, but かもしれない is more common for 'maybe'.
English speakers often use 'maybe' as a one-word answer. In Japanese, answering with just たぶん is possible in casual speech, but it can sound abrupt. It's more natural to repeat the verb or use a full phrase like そうかもしれない (that might be so) or たぶんね (maybe, with a softening particle).
鍵を家に忘れたかもしれない。
Maybe I left my keys at home.
もう少し待ったほうがいいかもしれない。
Maybe we should wait a little longer.
Maybe he won't come.