かもしれない: How to Say “Maybe, Maybe Not” in Japanese

Yuka

How do Japanese people express uncertainty — like “maybe yes, maybe no” or “who knows?”

Rei

そうかもしれないし、そうじゃないかもしれない! It literally says both possibilities out loud. The key structure is かもしれない (might be) — the building block for all Japanese uncertainty!

Breaking Down かもしれない

• か (ka) — question/uncertainty marker
• も (mo) — also / even
• しれない — cannot know (negative of 知れる)
• Together: “It cannot even be known whether…” = “maybe / might be”

How to Use かもしれない

• 雨が降るかもしれない。 — It might rain.
• 彼は来ないかもしれない。 — He might not come.
• 正しいかもしれないけど、わからない。 — It might be right, but I’m not sure.
• そうかもしれないし、違うかもしれない。 — It might be so, or it might not.

Uncertainty Expressions in Japanese

Yuka

Is かもしれない used in formal writing too?

Rei

Yes! かもしれない is completely standard in all registers. In formal writing you might see かもしれません (polite form) or 可能性がある (there is a possibility) for more academic/business writing.

Common Patterns

• [verb/adj]かもしれない — might [do/be]
• かもしれないし、〜かもしれない — might be X, or might be Y
• かもしれないけど — might be, but…
• かもしれません — polite form

Quick Quiz

Translate using かもしれない:

• 1. She might be at home.
• 2. It might be difficult.
• 3. He might come, or he might not.

Answers: 1. 彼女は家にいるかもしれない。　2. 難しいかもしれない。　3. 彼は来るかもしれないし、来ないかもしれない。

💬 Want to practice these phrases with a real person? Find a Japanese conversation partner or tutor on italki — speaking practice you can start today.

Summary

あわせて読みたい

たぶん vs きっと vs おそらく: How to Say “Probably” in Japanese ExpressionReadingCertaintyMeaningたぶんtabun~70%Probably / I think soおそらくosoraku~80%Probably / most likely (more formal)きっとkitto~90%Surely / certainly...

あわせて読みたい

Chigai vs Chigau Test Both 違い（ちがい） and 違う（ちがう） come from the same root and are often translated as "difference" or "to differ" in English. But learners frequently mi...